Disclosures: Brody Fitzpatrick, BS: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest

Objective: In this study, we aimed to: 1) evaluate the efficacy of genicular nerve block (GNB) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in non-surgical candidates being followed in a multidisciplinary osteoarthritis management program (OAMP), and 2) identify functional measures and patient factors predicting treatment outcomes of these procedures.

Design: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 18 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis who completed a GNB or RFA. Demographic, clinical, and procedural data were collected for each patient. Numeric rating scale (NRS) scores were collected in the peri- and post-procedural settings and at a follow-up visit with a median of 46 days post-procedure (range: 1,279).Setting : All patients were referred for a GNB or RFA from our multidisciplinary OAMP. Our patients have greater pain and dysfunction compared to the general knee osteoarthritis population. Additionally, unlike patients managed in typical care, our patients receive guideline-based care.Participants : To be eligible for study participation, patients must have visited our clinic and subsequently completed a GNB or RFA between 10/2017 and 05/2019.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: The primary goal was to evaluate the efficacy of GNB and RFA in our patient population. Secondary outcomes included identification of functional measures and patient factors predicting treatment outcomes.

Results: Both GNB and RFA demonstrated significant NRS reduction in the post-procedure (GNB=-5,p>0.001; RFA=-2.7, p=0.001) and follow-up settings (GNB=-2.1,p=0.010; RFA=-3,p=0.016). There was also a trending interaction demonstrating a 2.3-point greater reduction in NRS for patients who underwent GNB compared to RFA (p=0.052). Lastly, the relationship between WOMAC total and the paired differences of pre- and follow-up NRS scores for GNB and RFA yielded a significant correlation of -0.668 (95%CI: -0.932,-0.008).Conclusions: We demonstrated that GNB and RFA produced significant pain reduction for patients referred from our multidisciplinary OAMP. Additionally, the WOMAC may be valuable in evaluating primary knee osteoarthritis and developing a referral protocol for GNB and RFA.

Level of Evidence: Level III

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/effect-of-genicular-nerve-radiofrequency-ablation-for-knee-osteoarthritis-a-retrospective-chart-review/