Repeat Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation Is Beneficial for Chronic Posterior Sacroiliac Joint Pain

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of repeat cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) in chronic posterior sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain. DESIGN The electronic records of 41 adult patients who had successful CRFA were reviewed for duration of pain relief and utilization of medical care for six months before and after each CRFA procedure. SETTING Academic, tertiary medical center. PATIENTS Forty-one adult patients who had CRFA for chronic posterior SIJ pain. RESULTS A repeat ipsilateral CRFA ablation procedure provided 9.0 months of pain relief compared with 5.5 months after the first CRFA procedure (P = 0.0378). The total number of medical treatments decreased after the first CRFA procedure (from 343 to 201). The medical cost decreased by 51.0% after the first CRFA and by 70.4% after the repeated CRFA procedure. CONCLUSIONS Using repeated nonsurgical, minimally invasive approach, CRFA relieves chronic posterior SIJ pain and reduces patients' utilization of medical services.