PERIARTICULAR RFA: AN INNOVATIVE METHOD FOR TREATING PAIN IN BERTOLOTTI'S SYNDROME – A CASE REPORT

A 45-year-old woman had a 12-month history of low back pain and left upper buttock pain, which did not respond to conservative management. Bertolotti's syndrome, characterised by a unilateral lumbosacral transitional vertebra, was diagnosed based on radiological findings. The patient underwent a diagnostic block, resulting in immediate pain relief lasting 10 hours. Given the positive response, she proceeded to conventional radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the left pseudoarthrosis. Following the procedure, the patient experienced a significant reduction in pain that persisted for over four months. Functional ability and quality of life also improved markedly. Importantly, no significant complications occurred during or after the intervention. RF ablation offers a promising and minimally invasive therapeutic option for patients with Bertolotti's syndrome who have refractory back pain unresponsive to conservative measures. This case highlights the role of interventional techniques, such as RF ablation, in achieving long-term pain relief and improving quality of life in individuals with Bertolotti's syndrome.