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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neurorehabilitation
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1369947
This article is part of the Research Topic Application of Brain-Computer Interface, Robot, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation View all 3 articles

Safety and effectiveness of thermal radiofrequency applied to the musculocutaneous nerve for patients with spasticity

Provisionally accepted
Sergio Otero-Villaverde Sergio Otero-Villaverde *Jacobo Formigo-Couceiro Jacobo Formigo-Couceiro Rosa Martin-Mourelle Rosa Martin-Mourelle Antonio Montoto-Marques Antonio Montoto-Marques
  • A Coruña University Hospital Complex (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    OBJECTIVE: Evaluate safety and effectiveness of thermal radiofrequency in the musculocutaneous nerve in patients with focal elbow flexor spasticity. DESIGN: Ambispective observational follow-up study. Patients with focal spasticity secondary to central nervous system injury with elbow flexor pattern who received thermal radiofrequency treatment in the musculocutaneous nerve between 2021 and 2023 were included. SUBJECTS: 12 patients METHODS: Ultrasound-guided thermal radiofrequency was applied to the musculocutaneous nerve at 80º C for 90 seconds. Effectiveness was assessed prior to thermal radiofrequency and at six months using scales to measure pain (VAS), spasticity (MAS), disability (DAS), quality of life (SQol-6D), patient-perceived and physician-perceived satisfaction (PIG-C, PGA), and goal attainment (GAS). Elbow joint range of motion was evaluated via goniometry. Safety was evaluated by assessing side effects. RESULTS: Patients had statistically significant improvements in spasticity (p=0.003), severe elbow flexion (p=0.02), pain (p=0.046), functioning (p<0.05), and spasticity-related quality of life (p<0.05 in three sections). Furthermore, treatment goals were attained. Patient- and physician-perceived clinical improvement was achieved. Regarding side effects, two patients had dysesthesia that was self-limiting, with maximum duration of one month. CONCLUSIONS: Thermal radiofrequency in the musculocutaneous nerve can be a safe, effective treatment for patients with severe spasticity with an elbow flexor pattern.

    Keywords: Radiofrequency, Spasticity, Musculocutaneous Nerve, Thermal radiofrequency ablation, Disabilility

    Received: 13 Jan 2024; Accepted: 20 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Otero-Villaverde, Formigo-Couceiro, Martin-Mourelle and Montoto-Marques. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Sergio Otero-Villaverde, A Coruña University Hospital Complex (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain

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