Comparison of the Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Neurotomy and Endoscopic Neurotomy of Lumbar Medial Branch for Facetogenic Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of radiofrequency neurotomy (RN) and endoscopic neurotomy (EN) of lumbar medial branch (MB) for facetogenic chronic low back pain (FCLBP). METHODS: Forty patients with FCLBP were included and randomly assigned to the control group and the experimental group. The control group (20 cases) underwent X-rayassisted RN and the experimental group (20 cases) underwent EN of the lumbar MB. The patients' Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score were evaluated and compared preoperatively, and at 3 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: First, the RN group demonstrated successful treatment results (P < 0.05) at 3 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. At 2 years, patients reported no significant effectiveness (P > 0.05). Second, the EN group demonstrated more prolonged successful treatment outcomes compared with the RN group. At 2 years, although the efficacy declined further, the VAS and ODI scores showed significant improvements compared with the preoperative data (P < 0.05). Third, there was no difference in VAS and ODI scores between the 2 groups at 3 weeks after surgery (P > 0.05). At 6 months and later, the EN group demonstrated better outcomes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For FCLBP, EN and X-ray-assisted RN of lumbar MB are both effective treatments. However, endoscopic lumbar MB neurotomy has the better and longer effectiveness.