How does ablative radiofrequency work?
Ablative radiofrequency, as performed at our Centre, involves burning the nerve by means of a needle with a heated tip. By destroying the nerve through heat, it can no longer transmit pain. The procedure differs from cryosurgery in a number of ways. A key difference is that patients who undergo cryosurgery generally do not lose sensation from a small section of their toes, whereas this is likely with radiofrequency. The procedure is minimally invasive and highly specific to the neuroma, with minimal damage to adjacent tissues.
Is radiofrequency painful?
The procedure itself is generally not painful as it is carried out under a local anaesthetic. This anaesthetic is usually injected into the ankle and top of the foot, not at the site of the neuroma. Here, the skin is relatively soft, and the injection is generally not too uncomfortable. After the procedure, we have found that patients can experience mild discomfort, which is slightly more significant when compared to cryosurgery.
How painful is the injection?
Patients tolerate the injection well, and this is reflected by other studies. Barrington et al. (2014) explored patient willingness to undergo a repeat peripheral nerve block in the event of any further surgery that they may require. The study reviewed 9,969 surgical procedures with a response rate of 61.6 per cent. 94.6 per cent of patients were willing to have a repeat nerve block if required. At our Centre, the vast majority of patients cope very well with the injection and describe only mild to moderate discomfort.
How long does ablative radiofrequency take?
Your entire appointment will be one hour. This includes the time it takes for your foot to go numb following the administration of local anaesthetic.
What will I need to do after the procedure?
We recommend that you travel home on the back seat of a car so you can keep your foot elevated. You should rest for 24 hours but can then return to work. You should avoid longer periods of walking (short walks of 10 minutes or so should be fine).
Why do people respond in different ways in terms to their recovery from ablative radiofrequency?
Some patients bleed and bruise a little more than others. Pain thresholds also vary from patient to patient, and some may be more sensitive to the procedure.
What is the risk of complication from ablative radiofrequency?
The incidence of complication is small. We not yet performed as many ablative radiofrequency procedures as cryosurgeries, but the numbers are increasing. To date we have not encountered any significant complications.
How much does ablative radiofrequency cost?
Please contact us for further information regarding costs.
