939 - Demographic Factors Influencing the Need for Repeat Radiofrequency Ablation in Chronic Pain Management

Objectives:


Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a promising medical procedure for the management of chronic pain by selectively targeting and disrupting nerve signals involved in transmitting pain sensations. While RFA has shown efficacy in alleviating pain, there exists a variability in the response to the procedure, with some patients achieving sustained relief following a single session, while others require multiple RFAs. This review aims to investigate the demographic factors that may contribute to the need for repeat RFAs in chronic pain patients.






 

Design: A retrospective case series was conducted using patient records from Loma Linda University Pain Management Clinic to evaluate potential demographic factors associated with the need for repeated radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures. Patients who underwent at least two RFA treatments between January 2019 and January 2023 were identified through a systematic query of the clinic's electronic database. Demographic data, including race, sex, age, and body mass index (BMI), were collected. Race categories included White, Hispanic, Black, Asian, and other. Sex was classified as male or female, while age and BMI were recorded at the time of each RFA. The total number of RFAs for each patient was also documented.
 

Results: The results of the study showed no statistically significant correlation between race, sex, age, or BMI and the need for repeat radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures. Despite assessing these demographic factors, none were found to have a meaningful influence on the likelihood of requiring additional RFA treatments.
 

Conclusions: The study concluded that variability in patient response to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) could not be determined based on demographic factors. No evidence was found to suggest that race, sex, age, or BMI could predict whether a person would require multiple RFA procedures. As a result, demographic characteristics alone were not reliable indicators for the need for repeat treatments.