The Procedure Technique Series provides step-by-step guidance from prominent physicians on performing important RF procedures. Each guide is beautifully illustrated and provides detailed information on surgical methodology, including specific surgical steps and operation of RF equipment. These monographs are published by Cosman Medical and provided to our customers free of charge as part of our commitment to education in radiofrequency medicine.
Radiofrequency Treatment of the Lumbar Medial Branch
by Charles A. Gauci, MD, FRCA, FIPP, FFPMRCA
This guide details Dr. Charles Gauci's method for percutaneous RF denervation of the lumbo-sacral facets and sacroiliac joints, one of the most fundamental and commonly performed RF procedure in pain medicine. Pain from these joints is estimated to account for 15% of chronic lower back pain. The guide covers epidemiology, diagnosis, pre-operative routine, facilities and surgical equipment, operative steps including cannulae placement and RF generator operation, and post-operative care.
Dr. Gauci has been actively involved in pain management since 1979 and is a world-renowned educator, clinician, and leader in interventional pain medicine. He is the author of "Manual of RF Techniques", a popular, practical manual of RF procedures in chronic pain medicine. He practices at Whipps Cross University Hospital in London, and at Queen's Hospital in Essex, UK.
Percutaneous Stereotactic Radiofrequency Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia
by John M. Tew, Jr, MD, FACS, and Andrew Grande, MD
In this guide, Drs. Tew and Grande detail the RF technique they have personally used to treat over 3000 patients with trigeminal neuralgia. This percutaneous, outpatient method provides "a safe and proven method of achieving long-term pain relief from trigeminal neuralgia." The published recurrence rate with this technique is "25% over 15 years, which is better than other percutaneous procedures and comparable to microvascular decompression," an open neurosurgical procedure. The guide covers diagnosis, pre-operative routine, facilities and surgical equpment, operative steps including cannulae placement and RF generator operation, post-operative care, and a literature review on outcomes.
Dr. Tew is a pioneer in RF treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, having developed the curved TEW trigeminal electrode with Dr. Eric Cosman, Sr, PhD in the late 1970's. Dr. Tew is a neurosurgeon at the Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializing in brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, acoustic neuromas, pituitary tumors, shingles, trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, percutaneous stereotactic rhizotomy (PSR), microvascular decompression (MVD), hemifacial spasm, and Chiari malformations. Dr. Andrew Grande is a resident in Neurosurgery at the Mayfield Clinic.
Other Guides
Cosman Medical also sells high-quality guides and books that are printed by other publishers.
Manual of RF Techniques (3rd Edition, 2011)
by Charles A. Gauci, MD, FRCA, FIPP, FFPMRCA
Now in its third edition, Dr. Gauci's Manual is a "how to do it" radiofrequency handbook that concentrates on the essentials of widely used RF pain management procedures, including facet denervation, PRF of the DRG, sympathetic RF, facial RF, RF cordotomy, and peripheral nerve RF. The text is reduced to a bare minimum and is accompanied by a series of clear illustrations. Spring-bound, laminated, and supplied with a waterproof pen, the manual can be taken into the operating theater when performing procedures. This edition contains guest chapters from several big names in interventional pain management: Professor Alex Cahana, Professor Phillip Finch, Professor Eric Cosman Sr., Dr. Eric Cosman Jr., Professor Miles Day, and Dr. Olaf Rohof.
Active in pain management since 1979, Dr.Gauci is Lead Consultant in pain management at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London; an Honorary Consultant in pain management at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK; and a Visiting Consultant in pain management to the Ministry of Health in Malta. He is also Honorary Secretary of the World Institute of Pain (WIP), a Trustee of the WIP Foundation, and an examiner for the FIPP Diploma.
The Manual of RF Techniques is published by CoMedical BV (Ridderkerk, Netherlands).
