Pull-Back Genicular Nerve Ablation May Improve Function Over Traditional at 12 Months

In a single-center retrospective study of 68 knee OA patients, pull-back genicular nerve ablation (pbGNA) led to greater 12-month WOMAC functional improvement than traditional GNA (β=15.39, p=0.04) but no difference in VAS pain relief. Effect modest, CI wide, and not randomized.

• Single-center, non-randomized retrospective cohort of 68 patients (26 pbGNA vs 41 tGNA); median age 67, 19% male.
• On multivariable analysis, pbGNA was not associated with greater VAS improvement (β=0.71, p=0.44), but significantly associated with greater WOMAC improvement (β=15.39, p=0.04).
• Limited by small size, retrospective design, operator preference selection, and modest effect with wide confidence intervals (exact CI not reported).

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