Association between extracellular signal-regulated kinase expression and the anti-allodynic effect in rats with spared nerve injury by applying immediate pulsed radiofrequency

BMC Anesthesiology, 2015 · DOI: 10.1186/s12871-015-0071-3 · Published: May 29, 2015

Anesthesiology Neurology Pain Management

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the use of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment immediately after nerve injury to reduce neuropathic pain in rats. Neuropathic pain often results from nerve damage and can cause symptoms like allodynia (pain from non-painful stimuli) and hyperalgesia (increased pain from painful stimuli). The study aims to understand how PRF might change cellular processes in the spinal cord to alleviate this pain. Rats with spared nerve injury (SNI) were treated with PRF at different voltages, and their responses to stimuli like touch and cold were measured. The researchers also looked at the levels of a protein called ERK1/2 in the spinal cord, which is known to play a role in pain and inflammation. The findings suggest that immediate PRF treatment can indeed lessen neuropathic pain by affecting ERK1/2 activation in the spinal cord. The study concludes that applying PRF immediately after a nerve injury can significantly reduce the development of neuropathic pain. This effect is linked to the inhibition of ERK activation in the spinal cord, suggesting a possible mechanism for how PRF works. This could lead to new strategies for managing acute nerve injuries and preventing chronic pain.

Study Duration

28 days

Participants

Male Wistar rats (200–250 g)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Immediate PRF treatment after SNI significantly reduced mechanical and cold allodynia in rats over 28 days.
2
Both PRF-45 V and PRF-60 V treatments showed a similar antinociceptive effect, suggesting no significant difference in efficacy between the two voltages.
3
PRF treatment inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn of SNI rats, indicating a potential mechanism for its analgesic effect.

Research Summary

This study evaluated the analgesic effect of immediate pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment after nerve injury in a rat model of spared nerve injury (SNI). The results showed that immediate PRF application on the proximal nerve injury site significantly inhibited neuropathic pain formation, accompanied by the inhibition of ERK activation. The findings suggest that immediate PRF treatment regulates ERK-mediated mechanisms in the spinal dorsal horn of SNI rats, which in turn reduces SNI-induced neuropathic pain.

Practical Implications

Clinical Translation

The study suggests the potential for immediate or early PRF intervention in acute nerve injuries to prevent chronic neuropathic pain.

Treatment Strategy

Combining immediate and delayed PRF applications may offer optimal results for patients with nerve injuries.

Voltage Selection

For PRF interventional treatments in radicular pain, choosing the 45 V treatment may be advisable due to similar benefits with potentially fewer adverse effects.

Study Limitations

1
The mechanisms involved in the immediate versus delayed phase of PRF treatment may differ and are not fully understood.
2
There is a lack of clinical research-based investigation of the difference in antiallodynic effect between immediate and delayed PRF therapy after acute nerve injury.
3
Further investigation is required to understand the specific cell types in the dorsal horns involved in the analgesic effect and the role of ERK in the regulation of allodynia and hyperalgesia.

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