U.S. researchers report a small thermal RF case series for thigh nerve pain
Source publication date
U.S. researchers published a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve RF case series for meralgia paresthetica in Advances in Therapy on October 1, 2026. The single-center review covered 2014–2025 records: eight patients and 13 procedures.
Mean pain scores declined from 5.77 to 3.23; improvement was recorded after nine procedures. The principal pain assessments occurred two weeks to two months afterward. Repeat procedures mean the 13 cases are not 13 patients.
Small numbers, no control group, variable follow-up and absent function or quality-of-life data limit conclusions. One author disclosed Avanos consultancy. Cooled and pulsed RF were excluded. These invasive thermal-ablation findings cannot establish the efficacy of noninvasive rehabilitation TECAR devices.
Summary
An October 1 retrospective paper reported mean pain scores falling from 5.77 to 3.23 across 13 procedures in eight patients. The uncontrolled series examined conventional thermal nerve ablation; its size and design cannot establish efficacy or safety.
Editorial view
Editorial view: adds preliminary peripheral-nerve RF evidence, without documenting a product launch or expanded authorization.
Evidence and limitations
Eight patients, 13 procedures; an uncontrolled retrospective series cannot establish efficacy or safety or support extrapolation to TECAR, cooled RF or pulsed RF.