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McGill KC, Baal JD, Bucknor MD. Update on musculoskeletal applications of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound. Skeletal Radiol 2024; 53:1869-1877. [PMID: 38363419 PMCID: PMC11303439 DOI: 10.1007/s00256-024-04620-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a noninvasive, incisionless, radiation-free technology used to ablate tissue deep within the body. This technique has gained increased popularity following FDA approval for treatment of pain related to bone metastases and limited approval for treatment of osteoid osteoma. MRgFUS delivers superior visualization of soft tissue targets in unlimited imaging planes and precision in targeting and delivery of thermal dose which is all provided during real-time monitoring using MR thermometry. This paper provides an overview of the common musculoskeletal applications of MRgFUS along with updates on clinical outcomes and discussion of future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin C McGill
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, Suite M391, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Joe D Baal
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, Suite M391, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Matthew D Bucknor
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, Suite M391, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
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Karri J, Cohen SP. High-intensity focused ultrasound as the savior for lumbar facet joint neurotomy: fact, fad, or fiction? Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024:rapm-2024-105515. [PMID: 38724269 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2024-105515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay Karri
- Orthopedic Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven P Cohen
- Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Anesthesiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Gofeld M, Smith KJ, Bhatia A, Djuric V, Leblang S, Rebhun N, Aginsky R, Miller E, Skoglind B, Hananel A. Fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound neurotomy of the lumbar zygapophyseal joints: a prospective, open-label study. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024:rapm-2024-105345. [PMID: 38580339 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2024-105345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to investigate safety and effectiveness of a fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system for thermal ablation of the lumbar medial branch nerves. METHODS This dual center prospective cohort study enrolled 30 participants with lumbar zygapophyseal joint syndrome. Each participant previously had a positive response to either a single diagnostic analgesic block or radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The primary effectiveness outcome was individual responder rate, defined as a reduction of two points or more on the pain intensity numerical rating scale without an increase in opioid intake, or a reduction in opioid intake without an increase in pain at 6 months after the intervention. The primary safety outcome was procedure-related or device-related adverse events (AEs). Secondary outcome variables included MRI evidence of tissue ablation, Oswestry Disability Index, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey, Brief Pain Inventory, and Patient Global Impression of Change. RESULTS The individual responder rate was 89.7% at 2 days, 89.7% at 7 days, 72.4% at 14 days, 82.1% at 30 days, 59.3% at 90 days and 82.6% at 180 days. The average Numeric Rating Scale for pain severity decreased from 7.1 at baseline to 3.0 (N=29) after 2 days, 3.0 (N=29) after 7 days, 3.1 (N=29) after 14 days, 3.2 (N=28) after 30 days, 4.3 (N=27) after 90 days, and 3.3 (N=23) after 180 days. All participants tolerated the procedure well with no significant side effects or complications. CONCLUSIONS Fluoroscopy-guided HIFU neurotomy achieved clinical responses comparable with RFA, and there were no significant device-related or procedure-related AEs. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04129034.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anuj Bhatia
- Anesthesia and Pain Management, University of Toronto and University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vladimir Djuric
- McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Suzanne Leblang
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Gofeld M, Tiennot T, Miller E, Rebhun N, Mobley S, Leblang S, Aginsky R, Hananel A, Aubry JF. Fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of the lumbar medial branch nerves: dose escalation study and comparison with radiofrequency ablation in a porcine model. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2024:rapm-2024-105417. [PMID: 38508592 DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2024-105417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a common method for alleviating chronic back pain by targeting and ablating of facet joint sensory nerves. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging, non-invasive, image-guided technology capable of providing thermal tissue ablation. While HIFU shows promise as a potentially superior option for ablating sensory nerves, its efficacy needs validation and comparison with existing methods. METHODS Nine adult pigs underwent fluoroscopy-guided HIFU ablation of eight lumbar medial branch nerves, with varying acoustic energy levels: 1000 (N=3), 1500 (N=3), or 2000 (N=3) joules (J). An additional three animals underwent standard RFA (two 90 s long lesions at 80°C) of the same eight nerves. Following 2 days of neurobehavioral observation, all 12 animals were sacrificed. The targeted tissue was excised and subjected to macropathology and micropathology, with a primary focus on the medial branch nerves. RESULTS The percentage of ablated nerves with HIFU was 71%, 86%, and 96% for 1000 J, 1500 J, and 2000 J, respectively. In contrast, RFA achieved a 50% ablation rate. No significant adverse events occurred during the procedure or follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that HIFU may be more effective than RFA in inducing thermal necrosis of the nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Suzanne Leblang
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Tiegs-Heiden CA, Hesley GK, Long Z, Lu A, Lamer TJ, Gorny KR, Hangiandreou NJ, Lehman VT. MRI-guided focused ultrasound ablation of painful lumbar facet joints: a retrospective assessment of safety and tolerability in human subjects. PAIN MEDICINE (MALDEN, MASS.) 2023; 24:1219-1223. [PMID: 37478345 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnad100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and tolerability of MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for the treatment of facet joint-mediated pain in human subjects for whom conventional treatment had failed. Secondarily, to evaluate effectiveness of the procedure. METHODS Consecutive patients who underwent MRgFUS at our institution were retrospectively identified. Chart review was performed to obtain relevant clinical and technical data. All patients had chronic low back pain and positive comparative medial branch blocks. RESULTS Twenty-six MRgFUS treatments in 20 patients were included. Mean sonication energy was 1436.6 Joules. The procedure was technically successful in all patients. Of the treated patients, 29.6% experienced short-term worsening of low back pain immediately after the procedure, all by 1-4 points on a 0-10 scale. One patient (3.8%) reported temporary worsening of preexisting radicular symptoms after the procedure. Of 21 treatments with clinical follow-up of at least 3 months available, 12 (57.1%) had >3 months' pain relief, 2 (10%) had <3 months' benefit, 6 (30%) reported no benefit, and 1 (5%) patient was lost to follow-up. In patients who reported at least some benefit with prior conventional radiofrequency ablation, 8/10 (80%) benefited from the MRgFUS procedure. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrates that MRgFUS ablation of the lumbar facet joints is a safe and tolerable procedure in human subjects and could provide another option for patients for whom radiofrequency ablation had failed. More than half of all patients received significant durable pain relief, which jumped to 80% for patients who had experienced at least some benefit from prior radiofrequency ablations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gina K Hesley
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
| | - Zaiyang Long
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
| | - Aiming Lu
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
| | - Tim J Lamer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
| | - Krzysztof R Gorny
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
| | | | - Vance T Lehman
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
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Eames M, Larrabee Z, Hananel A, Padilla F, Aubry JF. Low-Cost Thermochromic Quality Assurance Phantom for Therapeutic Ultrasound Devices: A Proof of Concept. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2023; 49:269-277. [PMID: 36441031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer acoustic output can vary over time as a result of an inconsistent power supply, damage to the transducer or deterioration over time. Therefore, easy implementation of a daily quality assurance (DQA) method is of great importance for pre-clinical research and clinical applications. We present here a thermochromic material-based phantom validated by thermal simulations and found to provide repeatable visual power output assessments in fewer than 15 s that are accurate to within 10%. Whereas current available methods such as radiation force balance measurements provide an estimate of the total acoustic power, we explain here that the thermochromic phantom is sensitive to the shape of the acoustic field at focus by changing the aperture of a multi-element transducer with a fixed acoustic power. The proposed phantom allows the end user to visually assess the transducer's functionality without resorting to expensive, time-consuming hydrophone measurements or image analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Eames
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Arik Hananel
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Frederic Padilla
- Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Aubry
- Department of Radiology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Physics for Medicine Paris, CNRS UMR8063, INSERM U1273, ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
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