Combined percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and cementoplasty for the treatment of extraspinal painful bone metastases: A prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: About 50% of patients with cancer develop bone metastasis mainly presenting with distressing, drug-resistant pain.

AIM OF THE WORK: The study evaluated efficacy and safety of combined cementoplasty and bony radiofrequency ablation in palliation of intractable pain and disability in cancer patients with bony metastases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 adult patients suffering from localized bony metastases causing refractory moderate to severe pain. Radiofrequency bony ablation performed followed by cementoplasty were done under computed tomography (CT) guidance with conscious sedation and local anesthesia. Final CT check was done to ensure adequate lesion filling and to exclude any cement leakage. Pain, hemodynamic variables, and neurological status were checked for a minimum of 2 h before discharge. The patients were followed up weekly in the pain clinic. The primary outcome measures pain severity and daily opioid consumption. The secondary outcome measures were quality of life and the degree of disability, and procedure-related adverse outcomes.

RESULTS: Pain score, daily morphine consumption, and Oswestry Disability Index score decreased significantly after 1 day, and 1, 4 and 12  weeks. None of the patients had serious complications during the postoperative follow up visits. Only 4 patients (13.3%) experienced discomfort during, and few days after the procedure, 3 patients (10%) suffered from local infection, and 2 patients (6.7%) reported cement leakage.

CONCLUSION: Combined radiofrequency ablation and cementoplasty is a safe and effective pain relief modality in patients suffering from extraspinal painful bone metastases with improvement of the quality of life.