Cochrane · systematic review · CD008572
Radiofrequency denervation for chronic low back pain
Maas, ET, Ostelo, RWJG, Niemisto, L, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2015 · Cochrane Library
Back and NeckAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
19
current version
GRADE rated
18
No studies
0
Included studies
NR
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 1 · 5.3%Very low 4 · 21.1%Low 9 · 47.4%Moderate 5 · 26.3%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation versus placebo
Population: patients with chronic low back pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain 1 month post treatment (VAS 0 to 10)a Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 160 participants | Moderate |
Pain 1 to 6 months post treatment (VAS 0 to 10)a Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 182 participants | Low Downgraded: inconsistency |
Pain > 6 months post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 140 participants | Moderate |
Function 1 month post treatment (ODI 0 to 100) Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Low Downgraded: inconsistency |
Function > 6 months post treatment (ODI 0 to 100) Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 60 participants | Low Downgraded: inconsistency |
Complications Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 0 participants | Ungraded |
Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation versus steroid injections
Population: patients with chronic low back pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain 1 month post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs steroid injections | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 180 participants | Low |
Pain 6 months post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs steroid injections | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 232 participants | Very low Downgraded: inconsistency |
Pain 12 months post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) Facet joint: radiofrequency denervation vs steroid injections | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 180 participants | Very low Downgraded: inconsistency |
Discs: radiofrequency denervation versus placebo
Population: patients with chronic low back pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain 1 month post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) Discs: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 56 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Pain 1 to 6 months post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) Discs: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 84 participants | Low |
Pain > 6 months post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) Discs: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 75 participants | Moderate |
Function 1 month post treatment (ODI 0 to 100) Discs: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 57 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Function 1 to 6 months post treatment (ODI 0 to 100) Discs: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 85 participants | Moderate |
Function > 6 months post treatment (ODI 0 to 100) Discs: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 76 participants | Moderate |
SI joint: radiofrequency denervation versus placebo
Population: patients with chronic low back pain
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Pain 1 month post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) SI joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 79 participants | Very low |
Pain 1 to 6 months post treatment (VAS 0 to 10) SI joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 51 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Function 1 month post treatment (ODI 0 to 100) SI joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 75 participants | Very low |
Function 1 to 6 months post treatment (ODI 0 to 100) SI joint: radiofrequency denervation vs placebo | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 49 participants | Low Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |