Background: Radiofrequency ablation of the genicular nerves has become accepted as a considerable technique to decrease the knee pain in advanced osteoarthritis. Recently chemical neurolysis has shown a cheap, safe alternative and may be with less failure rate because it covers the anatomical variation of the courses of the nerves. However, no one studied the combination of both of them as regarding the efficacy and the duration of pain relief and whether there is adding benefit or not.
Patients and methods : A total of 52 elderly patients, aging from 60 to 70 years old , ASA I, II, III, with knee osteoarthritis, have been included in the trial. they were divided in two groups (26 patients each ) were included in the study. one group receiving genicular nerve ablation using radiofrequency alone , the other group receiving thermal radiofrequency ablation with alcohol neurolysis.
Results: the group receiving genicular nerve ablation using radiofrequency with alcohol neurolysis. showed significant analgesia after 1 month and 6 months
conclusion: Adding chemical neurolysis to the radiofrequency ablation of the genicular nerves helps in hunting those nerves, decrease the dis-satisfaction and helps in increasing the duration of pain relief.