Effect of lumbar sympathetic ganglion radiofrequency therapy combined with anhydrous ethanol on pain relief in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Aims: To explore the efficacy and safety of lumbar sympathetic ganglion radiofrequency combined with anhydrous ethanol in treating pain associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head, providing clinical reference.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 101 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. According to the different treatment methods, the patients were classified into an observation group where lumbar sympathetic ganglion radiofrequency combined with anhydrous ethanol therapy was applied (n=51) and a control group where lumbar sympathetic ganglion radiofrequency alone was applied (n=50). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess the joint pain. Harris hip joint scores, incidence of complications, levels of inflammatory factors (hs-CRP and IL-6), and overall therapeutic effects were also compared between the two groups.

Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The VAS score of joint pain was significantly lower in the observation group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Harris scores were higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). The observation group had significantly lower levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 than the control group (P<0.001). In addition, there was no difference between the two groups in the incidence of complications (P=0.11).

Conclusion: Lumbar sympathetic ganglion radiofrequency combined with anhydrous ethanol provides an effective method for treating avascular necrosis of the femoral head, with good therapeutic effects on improving blood supply to the femoral head and relieving pain, and with good safety profile.