Objective
To compare the therapeutic effects between ra-diofrequency thermocoagulation and phenol motor branch block in treatment of spasticity of child with cerebral palsy. Method: Thirteen patients with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into two groups. One group received percutaneous selective radiofrequency thermocoagulation on tibial nerve motor branch and the other group received phenol motor branch block to the gastrocnemius muscle. Therapeutic effects were assessed before and after treatment for 6 months in each group. The severity of ankle spasticity was assessed with the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), the modified Tardieu scale (MTS), and the passive range of motion (PROM) of ankle joint. Results: In both groups, the MAS and MTS decreased, and radiofrequency thermocoagulation group showed more signi-ficant reduction of the spasticity (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in PROM on knee flexion and extension in a radiofrequency thermocoagulation group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Percutaneous selective radiofrequency thermo-coagulation could be a treatment option for relieving the localized spasticity of ankle in spastic cerebral palsy with little adverse effect. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 198-204)

Objective
To investigate the rates and mean duration of symptom recurrence after repeated radiofrequency thermocoagulations of the lumbar medial branch nerves for facet joint syndrome. Method: Medical records of 284 patients who had consecutive radiofrequency thermocoagulations for facet joint syndrome were reviewed. Responses of repeated radiofrequency thermocoagulations were compared with the initial radiofrequency thermocoagulation for mean duration of symptom recurrence and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: Forty-one (14.4%) among the patients who had radiofrequency thermocoagulation for facet joint syndrome were treated with additional radiofrequency thermocoagulation because of symptom recurrence. Thirty-seven patients were treated twice and four patients were treated three times. The mean duration of symptom recurrence of these patients was 7.3 months (2.3∼12.3 months). Reduction of the VAS pain scores were significantly lower after repeated radiofrequency thermocoagulations compared with initial radiofrequency thermocoagulation (p＜0.05). Conclusion: With well-defined diagnostic criteria for facet joint syndrome and a meticulous technique of radiofrequency thermocoagulation, radiofrequency thermocoagulation would be a useful treatment modality for patients with facet joint syndrome. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 94-97)

Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disorder in childhood. In cerebral palsy, spasticity can be a very disabling feature：limited locomotor abilities, contracture and gait difficulty. We present two cases of cerebral palsy patients who had treated with oral medication and chemodenervation with the Botulinum toxin A or alcohol but could not walk independently. We performed percutaneous selective radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the tibial motor nerve branch under the general anesthesia. The degree of spasticity, which was measured with modified Ashworth scale and modified Tardieu scale, was reduced and recurrence of the spasticity wasn't seen untill 6 months. Percutaneous selective radiofrequency thermocoagulation could be a treatment option for spasticity of cerebral palsy with little adverse effect. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 340-344)