Abstract:

Objective To compare the short?term efficacy and safety of low temperature plasma radiofrequence ablation （LA） vs. high voltage long duration pulsed radiofrequency （HL?PRF） in the treatment of cervicogenic headache （CEH）. Methods Eighty patients with cervicogenic headache were divided two groups： one treated with low temperature plasma radiofrequence ablation group as group L （n = 50） and the other treated with high voltage long duration pulsed radiofrequency group as group H （n = 30）. The two groups were compared in terms of the score by the Visual Analog Scale， score by the Range of Motion Scale， postoperative pain relief rate， postoperative complication incidence， 1， 4， 12， and 24 weeks after the operation， as well as the therapeutic effectiveness and safety. Results Both groups showed significantly lower VAS and ROM scores after operation （P < 0.05）. Compared with group L， group H had significantly lower VAS （all P < 0.05） but insignificantly lower ROM scores （all P > 0.05） at each time point. At T4， group H had significantly higher therapeutic effectiveness rate （P < 0.05） and higher incidence of scalp numbness at T3， as compared to group L （P < 0.05）. Conclusion The low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation and high voltage long duration pulsed radiofrequency both are effective and safe in the treatment of CEH， the latter approach can achieve better therapeutic effectiveness 24 weeks after the operation than the former.

Key words: Cervicogenic headache, Low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation, High voltage long duration pulsed radiofrequency, Ultrasound guided