Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), sometimes called Radiofrequency Neurotomy is a non-surgical intervention that can be used in the management of arthritis of the knee, hip and shoulder. RFA has been used for many years in the treatment of back pain associated with spinal disorders. Advances in technology have resulted in a more sophisticated technique that can now be extended to other joints.

The RFA procedure used X-ray guidance to place probes at specific locations around the knee, hip and shoulder where sensory nerve fibres are known to arise from the joint. Water heated to approximately 60 C is injected which heats the tissues locally causing the sensory nerves to be ablated so that they cannot transmit pain signals from the joint to the brain. RFA will not provide complete pain relief nor alter mechanical symptoms such as reduced range of movement but 80-90% patients report a significant improvement in their pain. The pain relief obtained from RFA has been reported to last from 12-24 months and the procedure can be repeated.

All RFA procedures that I perform are conducted in hospital under a general anaesthetic in an operating theatre using full sterile precautions. Typically the majority are undertaken as a day procedure go home same day.

I was the first Orthopaedic Surgeon in Tasmania to be trained in these techniques and will soon lead the formation of an International Centre of Excellence in Hobart for the training of overseas surgeons.