2022 COA Annual Meeting : Efficacy of radiofrequency microdebridement (TOPAZ) in tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials

Nine randomized controlled trials including patients with lateral elbow, shoulder, Achilles, and greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) tendinopathies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing radiofrequency microdebridement (RM) vs. other treatment modalities. Pooled outcomes of interest included short-term pain and function, mid-term pain and function, long-term pain and function, and complications. RM was found to be statistically superior to surgical debridement for short- and mid-term function in lateral elbow tendinopathy. RM also showed benefits in Achilles tendinopathy for mid-term function and long-term pain over surgical debridement and eccentric exercises, respectively. In shoulder tendinopathy, RM was as effective as arthroscopic subacromial decompression. No significant adverse effects were reported. These findings suggest that RM could be a viable alternative to traditional surgical treatments for tendinopathy, with comparable effectiveness and a favorable safety profile.