ABSTRACT

We aimed to assess the safety and technical outcome of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided osteoplasty with or without prior percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with painful osteolyses.

We performed a retrospective analysis of 29 patients with painful extraspinal and spinal osteo- lyses (16 women, 13 men; 63.1±14.4 years) who underwent CT fluoroscopy-guided osteoplasty (10-20 mAs tube current) with or without RFA (26 and 14 lesions, respectively), in 33 consecutive procedures from 2002 to 2016. Technical success was defined as at least one complete RFA cycle and subsequent polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA) bone cement injection covering ≥75% of longest diameter of extraspinal osteolysis on axial plane or of distance between vertebral endplates. Procedure-related complications within 30 days and dose-length-product (DLP) were also evaluated.

Osteolyses were located in the pelvis (acetabulum, n=10; iliac bone, n=4), spine (thoracic, n=6; lumbar, n=5; sacral, n=8), long bones (femur, n=3; tibia, n=1), sternum (n=2) and glenoid (n=1). Mean size of the treated osteolysis was 4.0±1.2 cm (range, 1.9–6.9 cm). Of 40 osteolyses, 31 (77.5%) abutted neighboring risk structures (spinal canal or neuroforamen, n=18; neighboring joint, n=11; other, n=8). Mean number of RFA electrode positions and complete ablation cycles was 1.5±0.9 and 2.1±1.7, respectively. Mean PMMA filling volume was 7.7±5.7 mL (range, 2–30 mL). Small asymptomatic PMMA leakages were observed in 15 lesions (37.5%). Mean total DLP was 850±653 mGy*cm. Six minor complications were observed, without any major complications.

CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous osteoplasty with or without concomitant RFA for the treatment of painful extraspinal and spinal osteolyses can be performed with a low complication rate and high technical success.