Could a tiny nerve zap ease stubborn knee arthritis pain?

NCT ID NCT07703293

Symptom relief Sponsor: Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at whether adding a targeted nerve treatment to a standard procedure can better relieve chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis. Researchers are comparing standard radiofrequency treatment alone versus standard treatment plus pulsed radiofrequency on specific sensory nerve branches in the knee. Adults aged 45 to 80 with knee osteoarthritis and persistent pain despite other treatments are being followed for three months to measure changes in pain and function.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: pulsed radiofrequency treatment of distal sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could provide better pain relief and improved knee function for people with chronic knee osteoarthritis who haven't responded to standard treatments.
What could go wrong: This is a small observational study, so results may not apply to everyone. The added treatment might not provide significant benefit over the standard procedure, and there are always risks like nerve damage or infection.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

About 66 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

May 2026

Expected to finish

Sep 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

The study population will consist of adult patients aged 45 to 80 years with clinically and radiologically confirmed knee osteoarthritis and chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months despite conservative treatment. Eligible patients will be those who are evaluated in the Algology Clinic and undergo ultrasound-guided genicular nerve radiofrequency treatment, with or without additional pulsed radiofrequency treatment targeting the distal sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis, as part of routine clinical practice. Patients will be included after providing written informed consent and will be followed for pain and functional outcomes at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure.

Ages

45 to 80 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: Age between 45 and 80 years Clinical and radiological diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-IV knee osteoarthritis Chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months Insufficient response to conservative treatments such as NSAIDs, physical therapy, or exercise programs Baseline Visual Analog Scale pain score ≥5 No coagulation disorder or active infection that would contraindicate the procedure Written informed consent provided by the participant Exclusion Criteria: Knee pain primarily caused by conditions other than osteoarthritis, including inflammatory arthritis, septic arthritis, tumor-related causes, or infectious causes Previous total knee arthroplasty or knee prosthesis surgery in the affected knee Radiofrequency or neurolytic procedure around the affected knee within the last 6 months Severe knee instability, advanced deformity, or history of acute trauma Active infection, skin lesion, or ulceration at the procedure site Uncontrolled systemic disease such as advanced heart failure or uncontrolled diabetes Bleeding diathesis or inability to discontinue anticoagulant therapy for an appropriate duration Pregnancy or lactation Cognitive impairment, inability to cooperate, or inability to comply with follow-up visits

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

osteoarthritis, knee

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Chronic knee pain Knee osteoarthritis

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

The places running it

1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
The official record

ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

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A doctor treating you

A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Could a tiny nerve zap ease stubborn knee arthritis pain?

What the study statuses mean