Background: Radiofrequency (RF) and cryolesioning are established methods for the
therapeutic interruption of sensory nerve supply to facet joints and other painful musculoskeletal
structures. The varying clinical success rates of these treatments have – among other technical
issues – been attributed to the small size of these lesions combined with the limited precision
in placing them. Since there are 2 different physical methods for lesioning and a wide range
of probes and lesion generators available, it is likely that the lesions generated by them may
be of different size.
Objectives: We sought to devise an experimental setup that would allow for the
reproducible and comparable evaluation of the size of cryo and RF lesions as they are being
used in interventional pain therapy.
Methods: A wide range of potential media was evaluated for this purpose. Based on
technical specifications, as well as on preliminary testing, a specific agar agar gel with
a gel point of between 32o
C and 35o
C and a melting point of between 80o
C and 85o
C
was selected for these experiments. Two different testing containers were constructed
from transparent acrylic: one with a volume of 1,500 mL and the other with a volume of
12 mL. Each of them allows for the introduction of a cryo or a RF probe and 2 bundles
of thermoelements into the gel volume. A water bath was used to maintain the gels at
37o
C and bundled, ultrafine NiCr-Ni thermoelements type K were used for measuring
the isotherms. A series of RF and cryolesions were performed within these experimental
setups to evaluate their suitability for the comparative testing of cryo and RF probes and
generators.
Results: Both testing setups generated reproducible results and proved to be suitable for
measuring RF as well as cryolesions. Visual observation of the lesions was better with the
small testing container and rewarming / recooling after performing a cryo / RF lesion was
more rapid with the smaller gel volume.
Limitations: Our setup allows for the comparative measurement of RF and cryolesions, but
it cannot simulate the realities within living tissue. While convection as a confounding factor
was excluded by use of a gel, capillary perfusion and the specific characteristics of different
tissues cannot be simulated.
Conclusions: The testing setup described in this manuscript can serve for the comparative
and reproducible study of RF and cryolesions that are commonly used in interventional pain
therapy.
Key words: Radiofrequency lesioning, cryolesioning, interventional pain therapy,
experimental study, agar agar gel, thermoelement.