Ganglion Impar vs Coccygeal Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation in Chronic Coccydynia

Chronic coccydynia is a condition characterized by persistent pain in the coccyx region that significantly affects daily activities and quality of life. When conservative treatments fail, interventional pain procedures such as radiofrequency ablation may be considered. This single-center, prospective, randomized study compared two radiofrequency ablation techniques used in the treatment of chronic coccydynia: fluoroscopy-guided ganglion impar radiofrequency ablation and ultrasound-guided coccygeal nerve radiofrequency ablation. Adult patients with chronic coccydynia who did not respond to medical treatment were randomly assigned to receive one of these two interventions. Pain intensity and functional disability were evaluated using standardized assessment tools before the procedure and during follow-up visits at 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment. The primary objective was to compare pain relief between the two techniques at 3 months. Secondary objectives included evaluation of functional improvement and procedure-related complications. The results of this study provide comparative information on the effectiveness and safety of these two commonly used radiofrequency techniques and may help guide clinicians in selecting appropriate interventional treatments for patients with chronic coccydynia.