Radiofrequency is a safe and effective therapy to relieve persistent knee pain and improve knee function in people having osteoarthritis of the knee.

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was carried out for comprehensively analyzing safety and efficiency of radiofrequency (RF) to manage knee osteoarthritis.

Several databases such as EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were explored. A total of 15 RCTs with 1009 patients with knee osteoarthritis were incorporated. The reported outcomes in the published RCTs were documented for RF and control groups.

With the aid of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), Global Perceived Effect (GPE) scale, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and occurrence of noxious reactions, significant outcomes were comparatively evaluated between both groups.

The RF treatment was found to improve knee function (WOMAC) and pain relief (VAS/NRS score) at 1–2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks post-treatment. With RF therapy, the patients’ degree of satisfaction also improved (GPE scale). No considerable difference was found between group 1 and group 2 in OKS.

No substantial rise in the side effects was reported with RF therapy. The subgroup evaluation of the knee pain at 12 weeks post-treatment signified that the effectiveness of RF therapy aiming the genicular nerve was profoundly superior when compared to intra-articular RF.

To sum up, the use of RF therapy is associated with improvements in knee function (WOMAC score) and pain mitigation (VAS/NRS score).