Minimally invasive treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip joint by radiofrequency denervation: a clinical case

Background: At present, there is a growing trend towards osteoarthritis spreading among the population of Russia and the entire world, therefore, the search for an effective and low-traumatic method of the pain syndrome relief in coxarthrosis is an important problem of modern medicine.

Clinical case description: A clinical case of treatment of a 64-year-old patient, a working pensioner, with the complaints of severe pain in the left hip joint and a clinical picture of stage IV coxarthrosis according to the Kellgren and Lawrence classification, is presented. Previously, indications for planned joint arthroplasty were found for this patient due to the ineffectiveness of a conservative treatment. The pain syndrome was estimated as 9 points on the visual analogue scale (VAS), 32 points according to the Harris Hip Score (unsatisfactory result). Due the development of an acute concomitant disease, radiofrequency denervation of the left hip joint was performed. The patient was discharged the next day after the surgery, and a positive outcome was achieved in the form of pain reduction for a long period. VAS: 1st day — 3 points, 1 month — 2 points, 6 months — 6 points, 12 months — 7 points. The Harris Hip Score: 1 month — 82 points (good result), 6 months — 76 points (satisfactory result).

Conclusion: As this clinical case has shown, radiofrequency denervation is a promising alternative for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip joint, for whom total arthroplasty is contraindicated, and a conservative treatment does not give long-term positive results for severe pain syndrome.