Coolief

Not All RFAs (Radio-frequency Ablation) Are Same

How does COOLIEF work?

COOLIEF* cooled radiofrequency ablation relieves chronic pain in the knee, shoulders, spine, and hip. Watch how it works.

COOLIEF is a type of thermal radiofrequency ablation. It is a minimally invasive, non-surgical, non-narcotic procedure that treats chronic back, knee, and hip pain and can last for up to a year (for some people with chronic back pain, up to two years). Because it can be performed in an outpatient setting, patients have the potential to return to an enhanced quality of life much sooner than with surgery — and with a reduced need for narcotics. See Patient Brochure

  • Clinical studies of cooled RF addressing other sources of pain have demonstrated over 20 months of pain relief and improved physical function
  • Is designed to treat complex anatomy of variable nerve courses through the creation of large volume, spherical lesions
  • Potentially reduces the amount of time and fluoroscopic exposure through straightforward, familiar placement techniques

Indications

  • Chronic Neck Pain
  • Chronic Mid- or Low Back Pain
  • Chronic Buttock Pain from Sacroiliac Joint Disease
  • Chronic Shoulder, Hip or Knee Pain (even when joint replacement has failed)
  • Chronic Occipital Headaches

Details

The top 6 ways COOLIEF cooled radiofrequency ablation can help with chronic pain
1. Pain relief for up to 12 months

In clinical studies, most patients receiving COOLIEF reported that their pain was significantly reduced.

2. Improved mobility

COOLIEF has been proven to significantly improve long-term physical function and quality of life for OA knee patients for up to 12 months.

3. Quick recovery time

Because the procedure is minimally invasive, most patients can expect to feel pain relief within 1-2 weeks, returning to an enhanced quality of life much sooner than with surgery.

4. No opioid recovery medication

You may experience some discomfort for a short period, but this discomfort can be treated with common over-the-counter medication.

5. No overnight hospital stay

Since this outpatient treatment requires no general anesthesia, you can return home shortly after treatment.

6. No incision

Unlike surgery, COOLIEF involves no incision.

Procedure

During the days before surgery, a doctor may recommend that a person avoids taking drugs that make it hard for blood to clot, such as aspirin and warfarin. On the day of surgery, a person will probably be told not to eat or drink anything for several hours before the procedure. A person can take any medication a doctor approves, along with sips of water.

A surgeon will perform Coolief procedure in a hospital. Patient are sedated using monitored anesthesia. The surgical procedure is as follows:

  • Patient is positioned in a comfortable position
  • Anesthesia is induced by an attending anesthesiologist
  • Fluoroscopic images (X-Ray) is used to identify the site of cannula position
  • Cannula (needle) is placed under live fluoroscopic guidance to the target
  • Radiofrequency RF probes are placed through the cannulas
  • RF probes are connected to a generator
  • Various safety steps are conducted to confirm accurate location
  • RF lesions are created, cannulas are removed and small band-aids are applied at sites
  • Patient is taken to recovery area

Risks and complications

The most common side effect is a transient sunburn-type pain at the treatment site. This is a superficial burning pain, like a sunburn, that occurs for 3-5% of patients. The pain is not severe, but it can be troublesome and last for several weeks.

  • Less common in the mid and low back than in the neck
  • Most common at higher levels of the neck
  • Can be treated with topical medication or oral medications

For 2-3 weeks following the procedure, you may experience the following temporary side effects:

  • Soreness at treatment site
  • Muscle spasms or irritability at treatment site
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Numbness

RARE COMPLICATIONS & SIDE EFFECTS OF COOLIEF

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Increased pain
  • Nerve damage
  • Allergies or reactions to medications used

Credits & Sources:

  1. Avanos
  2. Stelzer W. MD, Use of Radiofrequency Lateral Branch Neurotomy for the
    Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint-Mediated Low Back Pain: A Large Case Series. Pain Medicine,2013 Jan (1)29-35.
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