Orthopaedic and Spine Institute
Texas Center for Athletes
21 Spurs Lane Suite 245
San Antonio, Tx.78240
210.48.SPINE
(210.487.7463)
Fax: 210.487.7468
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Orthopaedic Services and Procedures
NON-OPERATIVE PROCEDURES
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the Cervical Facets
Pulsed Radiofrequency Neurotomy (PRFN) is a minimally invasive procedure that disables and prevents a specific spinal nerve from transmitting pain signals. PRFN is a modified version of a procedure termed Radiofrequency Therapy (RT), a procedure developed more than 30 years ago. PRFN is still fairly new, but more and more pain management specialists are performing this procedure to treat painful facet joints.
Like its predecessor, PRFN applies a precisely targeted electrical field to change the function of nerves - in this case, a specific branch of a spinal nerve rendering it incapable of transmitting pain signals. However, PRFN is different. A primary difference between the original technique (RT) and PRFN is that 'pulsed' radiofrequency applies an electrical field to the target nerve for short intervals at a lower temperature, which does not destroy nerve tissue, but rather "stuns" the nerve.
