Advances in Treating Chronic Knee Pain: Genicular Nerve RFA
Chronic knee pain remains a major challenge for athletes, active individuals, and older adults alike. When traditional treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections are not enough, newer techniques are being explored. One such promising option is Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) — a minimally invasive procedure targeting the nerves that transmit knee pain signals.
What Is Genicular Nerve RFA?
Genicular Nerve RFA involves using radiofrequency energy to heat and disrupt the function of specific sensory nerves around the knee. This can significantly reduce pain transmission without the need for open surgery or joint replacement.
What Does the Research Say?
Several recent studies support the use of Genicular Nerve RFA for managing chronic knee pain:
A comprehensive review found that up to 74% of patients reported greater than 50% pain relief six months after the procedure (Tate et al., 2019).
In a prospective study, patients with severe osteoarthritis experienced sustained pain reduction and improved knee function for up to 12 months after treatment (Jitsinthunun et al., 2023).
Trials comparing RFA to intra-articular steroids and oral analgesics have shown that RFA offers superior pain control in many cases (Conger et al., 2021).
How Safe Is It?
Genicular Nerve RFA is generally considered safe. Most studies report no major complications. However, rare issues like hematomas and minor burns have been documented and typically resolve with conservative care (Strand et al., 2019); (McCormick & Walega, 2018). Because the genicular nerves run close to blood vessels, careful technique is important to minimize the risk of vascular injury (Kim et al., 2016).
Who May Benefit?
Patients who typically benefit from Genicular Nerve RFA include:
Those with moderate to severe osteoarthritis who have failed conservative treatments
Individuals with chronic post-injury knee pain
Patients not ready for or not candidates for knee replacement surgery
Conclusion
Genicular Nerve RFA represents an important advance in the management of chronic knee pain. Current research suggests it offers meaningful, lasting pain relief for many patients with a relatively low risk of serious side effects. As techniques continue to evolve, RFA may become an even more widely adopted tool in sports medicine and orthopedic care.
Sources:
Tate, Q., Conger, A., Burnham, T., Cushman, D., Kendall, R., Schneider, B.J., & McCormick, Z. (2019). The Effectiveness and Safety of Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Recalcitrant Knee Pain Due to Osteoarthritis: a Comprehensive Literature Review.
Jitsinthunun, T., Euasobhon, P., Suttijanuwat, A., Wangnamthip, S., Rushatamukayanunt, P., Jirachaipitak, S., Zinboonyahgoon, N., Tajudin, M.S., Narkbunnum, R., & Sutipornpalangkul, W. (2023). Long-term Efficacy of Genicular Nerve Ablation for Chronic Osteoarthritic Knee Pain: A Prospective Observational Longitudinal Study.
Conger, A., Gililland, J., Anderson, L., Pelt, C., Peters, C., & McCormick, Z. (2021). Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: Current Evidence and Future Directions.