Nerve to Vastus Medialis Branches in Chronic Knee Pain

July 8, 2026 updated by: Damla Yürük, Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital

Chronic Knee Pain Beyond the Genicular Nerves: The Role of Distal Sensory Branches of the Nerve to Vastus Medialis

This observational cohort study aims to evaluate the clinical effect of adding ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis to conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency treatment in patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis.

Adult patients aged 45-80 years with clinically and radiologically confirmed knee osteoarthritis and chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months despite conservative treatment will be included. Patients will be followed according to routine clinical practice. Two cohorts will be evaluated: patients treated with conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency alone and patients treated with conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency plus pulsed radiofrequency of the distal sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis.

Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale, and functional status will be evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Assessments will be performed before the procedure, at 1 month, and at 3 months after treatment. Adverse events recorded in patient files will also be evaluated.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Chronic knee pain related to knee osteoarthritis is mediated by a complex sensory innervation network. Although genicular nerves are commonly targeted in radiofrequency procedures for knee osteoarthritis pain, recent anatomical and ultrasound-based studies suggest that additional sensory branches may contribute to medial knee joint pain. The distal sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis have been described as contributors to the sensory innervation of the medial knee joint capsule.

In routine clinical practice, patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis may undergo ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment of the genicular nerves. In some patients, pulsed radiofrequency treatment targeting the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis may also be added. This study will compare clinical outcomes between these two routinely treated cohorts.

The study will include adult patients aged 45-80 years with knee osteoarthritis confirmed clinically and radiologically, Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-IV, chronic knee pain lasting at least 3 months, and insufficient response to conservative treatments. The primary outcome will be the change in pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale from baseline to follow-up. Functional outcomes will be assessed using the WOMAC score. Evaluations will be performed at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure. Safety outcomes will include procedure-related adverse events such as hematoma, infection, increased neuropathic pain, or transient motor impairment.

No additional intervention will be performed for research purposes, and treatment allocation will not be determined by the investigators.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

66

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

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.

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency
Patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis who received ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment targeting the genicular nerves as part of routine clinical practice.
Procedure: Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency
Ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment targeting the genicular nerves will be performed as part of routine clinical practice in patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis. Pain and functional outcomes will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale and WOMAC scores at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure.
Other Names:
  • Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation
Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Plus Pulsed Radiofrequency Nerves Vastus Medialis
Patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis who received ultrasound-guided conventional genicular nerve radiofrequency treatment plus pulsed radiofrequency treatment targeting the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nervus vastus medialis as part of routine clinical practice.
Procedure: Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency
Ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment targeting the genicular nerves will be performed as part of routine clinical practice in patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis. Pain and functional outcomes will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale and WOMAC scores at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure.
Other Names:
  • Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation
Procedure: Conventional Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Plus Pulsed Radiofrequency of the Distal Sensory Branches of the Nerve to Vastus Medialis
Ultrasound-guided conventional radiofrequency treatment targeting the genicular nerves will be combined with pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the distal superficial and deep sensory branches of the nerve to vastus medialis. This combined approach will be performed as part of routine clinical practice in patients with chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis. Pain intensity and functional status will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale and WOMAC scores at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure.
Other Names:
  • Genicular nerve RF plus nerve to vastus medialis PRF

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Visual Analog Scale Pain Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure
Change in knee pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale. The score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more severe pain.
Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in WOMAC Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure
Change in knee osteoarthritis-related pain, stiffness, and physical function assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms and functional impairment.
Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 20, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 8, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Geniculer RF&VM PRF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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