Ultrasound-Guided Ablation of Anterior Articular Branches with Posterior Neurolysis vs. Anterior Approach for Chronic Hip Pain: A Retrospective Study

Chronic hip pain (CHP) is prevalent among the elderly and significantly impacts their quality of life. This study evaluates a novel ultrasound-guided technique that combines percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of anterior articular branches with posterior neurolysis of the nerve to the quadratus femoris for managing CHP. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 44 patients treated between September 2022 and September 2023 in a Pain Management outpatient clinic. Twenty-two patients underwent anterior RFA alone (Group B), while another twenty-two received both anterior and posterior RFA (Group A). Pain intensity was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Results showed that the combined anterior and posterior approach (Group A) maintained excellent pain control, with a mean NRS score of 1.455 six months post-procedure. In contrast, the anterior-only approach (Group B) indicated a rising trend in pain levels, resulting in a mean NRS score of 3.818 at the same follow-up point. The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in pain relief between the two groups (p < 0.001), underscoring the efficacy of the dual approach. This retrospective observational study demonstrates that the combination of anterior and posterior neurolysis provides superior pain relief compared to anterior neurolysis alone, offering a promising strategy for managing chronic hip pain in patients.