Efficacy and safety of minimally invasive interventions targeting the genicular nerves for knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
The evidence supporting the use of RFA for the management of knee OA is highly uncertain, with modest, short-term benefits that are not sustained.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA); RCTs from MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and trial registries, inception to August 2024
- Participants
- 2,049 patients25 trials
- Comparison
- Minimally invasive interventions targeting the genicular nerves (radiofrequency ablation (RFA), genicular nerve block (GNB), cryoneurolysis) vs sham/placebo (main comparison), intra-articular injections or usual care
- Outcome
- Pain intensity, physical function, and serious adverse events
Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis, Cochrane RoB-2, GRADE
- Random-effects meta-analysis
- Cochrane RoB-2
- GRADE
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pain intensity (0 - 10 scale)
RFA vs Sham/placeboMD (95% CI)
4 weeks
−1.70(−3.03 to −0.36)
12 weeks
−1.86(−2.82 to −0.89)
Safety
Serious adverse events
- No differences between minimally invasive interventions and sham/placebo
Original publication
Efficacy and safety of minimally invasive interventions targeting the genicular nerves for knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 5 March 2025. doi:10.
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