Comparison of Ganglion Impar Radiofrequency Ablation and Phenol Neurolysis Techniques for Chronic Coccydynia Treatment

Summary

Radiofrequency ablation and phenol neurolysis of the ganglion impar are methods used in cases unresponsive to medication, particularly in patients who derive short-term or partial relief from the initial ganglion impar block. In clinical practice, clinicians frequently use these two injections in patients with treatment-resistant pain who only partially benefit from the initial blockade procedure. To date, the medical literature lacks a comprehensive study comparing the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation and phenol neurolysis in patients who partially benefit from ganglion impar block. Therefore, this study is designed to compare the effectiveness of these two methods in patients with chronic coccydynia.

Timeline

Start

2025-07

Primary completion

2025-11

Completion

2026-03

Publications

• Background Sagir O, Demir HF, Ugun F, Atik B. Retrospective evaluation of pain in patients with coccydynia who underwent impar ganglion block. BMC Anesthesiol. 2020 May 11;20(1):110. doi: 10.1186/s12871-020-01034-6.
• Background Demircay E, Kabatas S, Cansever T, Yilmaz C, Tuncay C, Altinors N. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of ganglion impar in the management of coccydynia: preliminary results. Turk Neurosurg. 2010 Jul;20(3):328-33. doi: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.2852-09.0.
• Background Howard PD, Dolan AN, Falco AN, Holland BM, Wilkinson CF, Zink AM. A comparison of conservative interventions and their effectiveness for coccydynia: a systematic review. J Man Manip Ther. 2013 Nov;21(4):213-9. doi: 10.1179/2042618613Y.0000000040.
• Background Kircelli A, Demircay E, Ozel O, Coven I, Isik S, Civelek E, Kabatas S. Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation of the Ganglion Impar for Coccydynia Management: Long-Term Effects. Pain Pract. 2019 Jan;19(1):9-15. doi: 10.1111/papr.12698. Epub 2018 May 16.
• Background Sencan S, Kenis-Coskun O, Demir FGU, Cuce I, Ercalik T, Gunduz OH. Ganglion Impar block improves neuropathic pain in coccygodynia: A preliminary report. Neurol Neurochir Pol. 2018 Sep-Oct;52(5):612-617. doi: 10.1016/j.pjnns.2018.08.006. Epub 2018 Aug 28.
• Background Karadimas EJ, Trypsiannis G, Giannoudis PV. Surgical treatment of coccygodynia: an analytic review of the literature. Eur Spine J. 2011 May;20(5):698-705. doi: 10.1007/s00586-010-1617-1. Epub 2010 Nov 3.

Drugs

Indications