Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)NCT07869771
The Effect of Pulsed Radiofrequency Ablation of the Genicular Nerve on Pain, Balance, and Proprioception in Patients With Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis
A study testing Genicular nerve block via radiofrequency ablation in people with Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) and Genicular Nerves Block, run by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Determination of the effect of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency applied to the genicular nerve on pain, balance, and proprioception in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 45 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Osteoarthritis (OA), Genicular Nerves Block, Radiofrequency Ablation
- What is being tested?
- Genicular nerve block via radiofrequency ablation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 28 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 24 Jan 2025to 30 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 45 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 45-80 years
- Patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to American College of Rheumatology criteria and presenting with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3 radiological osteoarthritis
- Intact cognitive function
- INR ≤1.2
- Willingness to participate in the study and sign informed consent forms
Who cannot join
- Presence of neurological and/or vestibular disease causing balance impairment
- Physical therapy for knee osteoarthritis within the last 6 months
- Glucocorticoid or hyaluronic acid injection within the last 6 months
- Use of oral glucosamine
- History of knee surgery
- Existing neurological or mental disorders
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- History of pacemaker use
- Local infections or sepsis
- Progressive neurological deficit
- Oncological diseases
- History of systemic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Clinically significant structural abnormalities-in addition to osteoarthritis-that affect movement and knee function and could cause chronic knee pain
- Bleeding diathesis or INR >1.2
- Uncontrolled diabetes or other serious internal comorbidities
- Allergy to the medication or materials used
- Pregnancy
- Lack of cooperation
- Refusal to participate in the study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Determination of the effect of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency applied to the genicular nerve on pain, balance, and proprioception in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis
Read the detailed description
Surgical and non-surgical methods are used to treat knee osteoarthritis. Non-surgical treatments include patient education, self-management strategies, strengthening exercises, weight control, physical therapy, orthosis use, oral analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, prolotherapy, stem cell therapy, and genicular nerve blocks. All of these aim to reduce pain, improve function, and delay the need for surgery.
The genicular nerve block is a recently developed treatment option for knee osteoarthritis that targets three sensory nerves of the knee-the superior lateral, superior medial, and inferior medial genicular nerves-to block pain transmission to the central nervous system. Unlike alternatives such as intra-articular treatments and surgery, the block procedure is performed outside the knee joint. Genicular nerve blockade via radiofrequency ablation appears to be an emerging alternative for patients for whom conservative and surgical treatments have proven insufficient. Radiofrequency ablation of the genicular nerve provides temporary relief for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, as it does not eliminate the potential for peripheral nerve regrowth and regeneration, and thus the recurrence of pain. Previous studies have also reported accidental falls in patients following genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation procedures. These findings have raised concerns that the genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation procedure may alter proprioception and impair balance. This study was conducted because there are a limited number of studies investigating the effects of genicular nerve block on pain and function in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis.
- Being tested
- Genicular nerve block via radiofrequency ablation
- Keywords
- radiofrequency ablation, genıcular nerve, nerve block, knee pain, balance, proprioception
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis, Knee
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Genicular nerve block via radiofrequency ablationOther
Also called Genicular nerve block, radiofrequency ablation
The aim is to determine the effects on pain, balance, and proprioception following ultrasound-guided pulsed genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patients diagnosed with chronic knee osteoarthritis | Experimental | Patients aged 45-80 years diagnosed with chronic knee osteoarthritis according to American College of Rheumatology criteria and presenting with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3 radiological osteoarthritis Receives: Other: Genicular nerve block via radiofrequency ablation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
knee pain
Zero is equivalent to no pain, and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Measured: first month and third month
Secondary outcomes (2)
balance
The HUR SmartBalance BTG4 system will be used to measure both static and dynamic postural balance. An increase in the equilibrium value in percentage terms will indicate an improvement.
Measured: first and third month
proprioception
The Biodex System 3 (Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA) isokinetic dynamometer will be used to measure proprioception. Patients' proprioceptive sense will be assessed at 15 and 45 degrees. Indicating how closely the patient-with eyes closed-can perceive the 15-degree and 45-degree angles will demonstrate the change in proprioception.
Measured: first and third month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Oct 2026
- Study start24 Jan 2025
- Primary completion30 Jun 2026
- Study completion30 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Patients aged 45-80 years diagnosed with chronic knee osteoarthritis and presenting with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3 radiological osteoarthritis will be evaluated.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 28 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Seher KALIÇ, Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
- Investigators
- seher kalic, Principal investigator, Ankara City Hospital Bilkenthuma boluk senlikci, Principal investigator, Ankara City Hospital Bilkentemre adiguzel, Study director, Ankara City Hospital Bilkentayse m ata, Principal investigator, Ankara City Hospital Bilkent
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07869771
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- E2-24-9480
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
1- Fibel KH, Hillstrom HJ, Halpern BC. Modern management of knee osteoarthritis. World J Clinic Cases. 2015; 3 :89-101. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v3.i2.89. 2- Cross M, Smith E, Hoy D, Nolte S, Ackerman I, Fransen M, et al. Global burden of hip and knee osteoarthritis: estimates from the global burden of disease 2010 study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014; 73:1323-1330. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204763. 3- van Doormaal MCM, Meerhoff GA, Vliet Vlieland TPM, Peter WF. Clinical practice guideline for physical therapy in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Musculoskeletal Care. 2020; 18:575-595. doi: 10.1002/msc.1492. 4- Kesikburun S, Yaşar E, Uran A, Adıgüzel E, Yılmaz B. Ultrasound-guided genicular nerve pulsed radiofrequency therapy for painful knee osteoarthritis: a preliminary report. Pain Phys. 2016; 19 :E751-759. doi: 10.36076/ppj/2019.19.E751. 5- Deyle GD, Allison SC, Matekel RL, et al. Effectiveness of physical therapy treatment for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized comparison of supervised clinical exercise and manual therapy procedures versus a home exercise program. Physics Sweat. 2005; 85:1301-1317. doi: 10.1093/ptj/85.12.1301. 6- van Doormaal MCM, Meerhoff GA, Vliet Vlieland TPM, Peter WF. Clinical practice guideline for physical therapy in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Musculoskeletal Care. 2020; 18:575-595. doi: 10.1002/msc.1492. 7- Dantas LO, Salvini TF, McAlindon TE. Knee osteoarthritis: basic treatments and implications for physical therapy. Braz J Phys Ther. 2021; 25 :135-146. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.08.004. 8- Kim DH, Lee MS, Lee S, Yoon SH, Shin JW, Choi SS. Prospective study of the effectiveness of ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided genicular nerve block for chronic knee osteoarthritis randomized comparison. Pain Phys. 2019; 22:139-146. 9- Crawford DC, Miller LE, Block JE. Conservative management of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a flawed strategy? Orthopedic Rev (Pavia). 2013; 5 ( 1 ):e2.