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Fluoroscopic Versus Ultrasound Guidance for Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of Geniculate Nerves in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Control Trial
Sponsor: University of California, Davis
Summary
Cooled radiofrequency ablation (cRFA) of the knee geniculate nerves is a promising treatment option for knee osteoarthritis, but has variable efficacy. Fluoroscopy is the typical guidance of choice, but uses bony landmarks to target these nerves which have variable positions around the knee. Alternatively, ultrasound allows for targeting based on visualization of bony landmarks, the nerves, and their accompanying vascular structures, and thus may offer greater accuracy. However, there are few studies which directly compare the clinical efficacy of these two guidance options. This study will compare these two options.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
35 Years - 99 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
90
Start Date
2022-02-02
Completion Date
2026-05-01
Last Updated
2026-02-20
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
cRFA
cRFA intervention will occur under sterile conditions, the patient will be placed in a supine position on a table and a bolster to provide flexion in the treated knee joint. Skin and soft tissues will be anaesthetized with 2 mL 1% lidocaine at each of the three anatomic sites for cRFA, and a introducer needle will then be placed under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance to the SLG, SMG, and IMG nerves. Adjustments at these positions will be made when using ultrasound guidance in order to capture the geniculate nerve if the nerve and/or its accompanying vasculature can be directly visualized using greyscale or Doppler modes. When using ultrasound, the physician will note and record whether their positioning of the needle is based on bony landmarks, direct visualization of the nerve, and/or vascularity accompanying the nerve. Once the introducer needle is placed, the cRFA will be placed into the introducer needle.
Locations (2)
UC Davis Health
Sacramento, California, United States
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York, United States