Abstract
Objective: Lumbosacral nerve root pulsed radiofrequency (LS-PRF) may induce muscle contraction by stimulating the corresponding nerve twitch. We investigated the association between twitch and imaging findings during LS-PRF and also the analgesic effects. Method: We assessed the positional relation between the needle and the nerve on imaging findings and the association between these findings and the twitch. We evaluated the pain from 2 to 4 hours after LS-PRF for the short-term analgesic effects that were assessed. In subjects receiving LS-PRF for monoradiculopathy, medium-term analgesic effects were evaluated after 2- to 4 weeks. Results: The incidence of twitch was significantly higher when the needle was close to the nerve fiber than close to where the contrast medium diffused into surrounding tissues. No significant difference in the analgesic effect was found from 2 to 4 hours and 2 to 4 weeks after LS-PRF according to twitch. Conclusion: Twitch tends to develop when the needle is close to the nerves during LS-PRF. There is no significant difference in the short or medium-term analgesic effects in association with twitch.
