Prospective Case Series Evaluating the Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation With Stryker Venom Technology in the Treatment of Lumbar Facet Joint Pain

Abstract

Background: Lumbar facet joint (FJ) arthropathy is a common source of low back pain (LBP). This study assesses the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using Stryker's MultiGen 2 RF Generator combined with the Venom 18G cannula and electrode system for treating FJ-mediated LBP.

Case report: In this prospective, single-center case series, patients obtaining ≥ 80% improvement in pain after 2 medial branch blocks underwent RFA. Follow-ups were 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-RFA. Outcomes were the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), medications consumed, and adverse events (AEs). Nineteen patients were treated with RFA. Mean VAS, ODI, and RMDQ scores significantly decreased one-month postprocedure, and improvements were sustained to 12 months post-RFA. Patients' analgesic consumption remained stable. No procedure- or device-related AEs occurred.

Conclusions: This study highlights the effectiveness of RFA for treating FJ-mediated LBP. Significant improvements were observed rapidly and were sustained for the entire study.

Keywords: MultiGen 2; Radiofrequency ablation; Stryker; chronic low back pain; facet joint; lumbar spine; medial branch block.