Percutaneous cementoplasty of periprosthetic aseptic hip loosening

Progressive population aging and improved healthcare have led to a significant increase in patients with hip arthroplasty (HA). In this patient group, the proportion of those who require a new arthroplasty (prosthetic replacement or secondary revision of the hip), has also increased. For this subgroup of patients in whom surgical prosthetic replacement should be considered but is contraindicated, a new technique has been developed since 2010: percutaneous injection of periprosthetic cement under fluoroscopic or CT control ("femoroplasty; FMP") as an alternative and less invasive treatment compared to surgery to stabilize the HA without replacing it, with excellent results on patients' quality of life. In this brief communication, we describe our positive experience regarding FMP, which we have performed for the first time in Spain on four patients (age range between 74-83 years, 2 female and 2 male patients, 3 right HA and 1 left HA), without post-complications. We highlight both the relative simplicity of this technique, which can be incorporated into radiological intervention even in regional hospitals, and the significant clinical improvement observed in all patients. In conclusion, we hope that our experience can contribute to the increased adoption of this innovative technique within the scientific community.

Ablation, Osteoplasty, Reinforcement, and Internal Fixation for Percutaneous Endoskeletal Reconstruction of Periacetabular and Other Periarticular Osteolytic Metastases

For osteolytic metastatic disease in the pelvis and acetabulum of patients with unpredictable and limited lifespans, first-line treatment focuses on targeting the primary cancer with anticancer drugs, osteoclastogenesis inhibitors, analgesics, and radiation therapy. Uncontrolled pain and progressive bone destruction refractory to these interventions often warrant surgical stabilization. Conventional open surgical procedures using metal implants or prostheses may provide immediate biomechanical stability but are associated with various complications without local cancer control. Outcomes of conventional open surgical reconstructive procedures depend on local cancer progression and progressive bone loss. Percutaneous cancer ablation and bone augmentation with polymethyl methacrylate cement alone often lack optimal internal fixation and integration with surrounding bone. The current literature demands a multipurpose minimally invasive surgical intervention that provides local cancer control, bone protection, and stabilization. An overview of new, alternative percutaneous procedure consisting of image-guided ablation, balloon osteoplasty, cement reinforcement, and internal fixation, which offers a minimally invasive percutaneous treatment option for patients with osteolytic metastatic cancers with the advantages of concurrent thermal necrotization of cancers, zoledronate-loaded bone cementoplasty, and surgical stabilization in an ambulatory surgery setting, is warranted. Early clinical results have shown that the ablation, balloon osteoplasty, cement reinforcement, and internal fixation is a safe and effective alternative solution for stabilizing and palliating osteolytic lesions in patients seeking new effective therapies in the era of rapidly evolving oncologic care.

Minimally Invasive Stabilization of Periacetabular Metastasis

Metastatic bone disease to the pelvis can lead to lower quality of life and function secondary to pain. Historically, treatment was palliative with radiation therapy and chemotherapy used to reduce pain. The Harrington procedure and subsequent modifications improved pain and function. In the subset of patients with complications, this would delay potential life-prolonging interventions such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Percutaneous palliative pain procedures including ablation and cementoplasty have been developed by interventional radiology for pelvic lesions and have been shown to be safe and efficacious. Additionally, percutaneous methods of pelvic fracture fixation have been developed. Modern image guidance technologies have allowed an expanded multidisciplinary approach to pelvic metastatic disease in a minimally invasive fashion with combinations of ablation, internal fixation, and cementation to improve patient quality of life and outcomes with decreased morbidity and rapid return to radiation and systemic therapies.

Radiofrequency Ablation for the Palliative Treatment of Bone Metastases: Outcomes from the Multicenter OsteoCool Tumor Ablation Post-Market Study (OPuS One Study) in 100 Patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) ablation as measured by change in worst pain score from baseline to 3 mo after RF ablation for the palliative treatment of painful bone metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred patients (mean age, 64.6 y) underwent RF ablation for metastatic bone disease and were followed up to 6 mo. Subjects' pain and quality of life were measured before RF ablation and postoperatively by using the Brief Pain Index and European Quality of Life questionnaires. Opioid agent use and device-, procedure-, and/or therapy-related adverse events (AEs) were collected.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven patients were treated for tumors involving the thoracolumbar spine and 13 for tumors located in the pelvis and/or sacrum. All ablations were technically successful, and 97% were followed by cementoplasty. Mean worst pain score decreased from 8.2 ± 1.7 at baseline to 3.5 ± 3.2 at 6 mo (n = 22; P < 0.0001 for all visits). Subjects experienced significant improvement for all visits in average pain (P < .0001), pain interference (P < .0001), and quality of life (P < .003). Four AEs were reported, of which 2 resulted in hospitalization for pneumonia and respiratory failure. All 30 deaths reported during the study were attributed to the underlying malignancy and not related to the study procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this study show rapid (within 3 d) and statistically significant pain improvement with sustained long-term relief through 6 mo in patients treated with RF ablation for metastatic bone disease.

Percutaneous osteoplasty for the management of a pubic bone metastasis

Percutaneous osteoplasty (POP) has been proven to relieve pain due to osteolytic metastases by injecting bone cement to stabilize the pathological fracture. Nevertheless, there have been few reports about POP of metastases in the pubis. This article presents a case involving the use of POP to manage a metastasis in the pubis. After POP the patient experienced significant pain relief and improvement in the quality of life.

Feasibility of Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy Combined with Percutaneous Cementoplasty for Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation with Modic Type I Endplate Changes

BACKGROUND

Treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation with Modic type I endplate changes is complex and challenging, requiring systemic and local therapies which include conservative therapy, epidural infiltrations, percutaneous therapeutic techniques, and surgical options. The clinical management of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation involving Modic type I endplate changes is uniquely challenging because it requires alleviating pain caused by both the herniated disc and the endplate osteochondritis. Through different approaches, percutaneous lumbar discectomy (PLD) and percutaneous cementoplasty (PCP) have been introduced into clinical practice as alternatives to traditional surgical and radiotherapy treatments of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation and other spine diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of PLD and PCP for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation with Modic type I endplate changes.

STUDY DESIGN

PLD and PCP in 7 patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation with Modic type I endplate changes and its clinical effects were retrospectively evaluated.

SETTING

This study was conducted by an interventional therapy group at a medical center in a major Chinese city.

METHODS

Seven consecutive patients (2 men, 5 women; median age, 74.14 ± 5.34 years; age range, 68 - 82 years) who underwent percutaneous lumbar discectomy and cementoplasty for the treatment of symptomatic lumbar disc herniation with Modic type I changes between May 2013 and August 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The MacNab Criteria, visual analog scale (VAS), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for pain were assessed before and one week, 6 months, and one year after the procedure. Furthermore, the procedure duration, hospital stay length, and complications were assessed.

RESULTS

The VAS of the back and leg decreased from 6.14 ± 0.69 (range, 5 - 7) and 7.29 ± 0.76 (range, 6 - 8) preoperatively to 2.29 ± 1.38 (range, 1 - 5) and 2.71 ± 0.60 (range, 1 - 6) one week, 1.86 ± 0.69 (range, 1 - 3) and 2.00 ± 0.58 (range, 1 - 3) 6 months, and 1.71 ± 0.76 (range, 1 - 3) and 1.85 ± 0.69 (range, 1 - 3) one year postoperatively. The ODI dropped from 76.86 ± 7.45 (range, 70 - 82) preoperatively to 26.29 ± 19.47 (range, 16 - 70) one week, 19.14 ± 2.79 (range, 16 - 24) 6 months, and 18.57 ± 2.99 (range, 16 - 24) one year postoperatively. The mean procedure duration was 55.71 ± 6.07 minutes (range, 50 - 65 minutes). The average length of hospital stay was 7.57 ± 1.27 days (range, 6 - 10 days). No obvious complications were noted.

LIMITATIONS

This was a retrospective study with a relatively small sample size.

CONCLUSION

PLD plus PCP is a feasible technique for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation with Modic type I endplate changes.

Rotational osteoplasty and bioabsorbable polylactate pin fixation in Pipkin type 2 fracture with acute osteochondral defect: a case report

Pipkin fractures are relative rare high-energy lesions characterized by an intra-articular fracture of the femoral head after posterior hip dislocation. Early anatomic reduction and stable fixation are the main goals of treatment. This case evaluates the outcome of managing Pipkin type 2 fracture with acute osteochondral defect of the femoral head using "rotational osteoplasty" and bioabsorbable polylactate pin fixation. 24-year-old male patient was involved in a motorcycle accident, suffering from a left hip fracture-dislocation, and pelvic Computed Tomography revealed a Pipkin type 2 lesion. An open urgent treatment was performed. After  anatomic reduction of the femoral head fragment a large osteochondral defect in the anterior-superior weight bearing surface was evident. The pattern of the fracture allowed us to perform a "rotational osteoplasty" including rotation of the femoral head fragment, to obtain an osteochondral cartilage congruence of the anterior-superior surface. Stable fixation was obtained by three bioabsorbable polylactate pins. At four-year follow up the patient had an excellent outcome and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed fracture healing, minimal signs of arthritis, excluding osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The reported case confirms that Pipkin fractures are very insidious surgical urgencies. In selected cases, "rotational osteoplasty" may be an alternative to osteochondral transplant for acute osteochondral defect of the femoral head. Bioabsorbable polylactate pin fixation allowed us to have a stable fixation evaluating the bone healing process and vitality of femoral head by MRI.

Minimally invasive (percutaneous) treatment of metastatic spinal and extraspinal disease--a review

Metastatic tumors are the most common malignancy of bone. Many patients with spinal metastases present with pain and pathologic fractures. The advent of interventional radiology resulted in alternative and less invasive treatment of these patients. This article presents minimally invasive (percutaneous) procedures that are currently in use, i.e. vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, osteoplasty, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, and transarterial embolization. Indications, contraindications, results and complications are also discussed. According to our current knowledge of the results reported in the literature, minimally invasive techniques are successful methods for the treatment of metastatic spinal and extraspinal disease and can be used as alternative treatment to standard surgical or non-surgical procedures.

[Comparative study of osteoplastic materials based on chitosan, alginate or fibrin with tricalcium phosphate]

The study presents comparative analysis of porous composites made of chitosan, alginate, fibrin with beta-tricalcium phosphate. Histological findings on Wistar rat condyles showed that fibrin-beta-TCP-based composite had the most effective positive biological response.