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Thermal influence of radiofrequency ablation for bone: an experimental study in normal rabbit bone

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the heat effects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on normal bone by mechanical testing, MRI, and histology.

Materials and methods

The institutional animal care and use committee approved the animal study. Thirty-two adult Japanese white rabbits were included in our study. Bone biopsy needles were inserted from the distal end of the right (RFA side) and the left (control side) femurs using a fluoroscopic guide. A 17-gauge internally cooled RFA electrode with a 2-cm active tip was inserted through the needle to the right femur, and RFA was performed for 12 min using a 200-W generator. Animals were divided into four groups and 8 animals from each group were euthanized on day 1, day 7, day 30, and day 60 after RFA. MRI was performed prior to euthanasia. Three-point bending test was performed to measure flexural strength. Student’s t test was used to evaluate for significant differences between RFA and control side for each group. Femurs underwent histological examination by hematoxylin and eosin staining after the bending test.

Results

MRI showed a high-intensity rim around the bone on T2WI. Three-point bending test showed no statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the RFA and the control side in any of the groups. Histologically, osteocytes of cortical bone showed cell death, but the lamellar structure was preserved in all groups and bone remodeling was observed.

Conclusion

Heat by RFA did not change normal bone strength within 2 months, despite the heat effects in the cortical bone and cell death.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Shinsaku Yata, Akira Adachi, Tsuyoshi Kawai, Masayuki Endo, Shohei Takasugi, Takahiro Akao, and Hisataka Tanaka for their editorial assistance in preparing the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Radiology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishicho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8504, Japan

    Shuichi Yamamoto, Toshio Kaminou & Toshihide Ogawa

  2. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-cho minami, Tottori-shi, Tottori, 680-8552, Japan

    Yuichi Ono

  3. Department of Radiology, Tottori Prefectural Kosei Hospital, 150 Higashi-showa-machi, Kurayoshi, Tottori, 682-0804, Japan

    Masayuki Hashimoto

  4. Department of Radiology, San-in Rosai Hospital, 1-8-1 Kaikeshinden, Yonago, Tottori, 683-0002, Japan

    Yasufumi Ohuchi

  5. Department of Clinical Examination, National Hospital Organization Yonago Medical Center, 4-17-1 Kuzumo, Yonago, Tottori, 683-0006, Japan

    Haruhiko Yoshida

Authors
  1. Shuichi Yamamoto
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  2. Toshio Kaminou
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  3. Yuichi Ono
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  4. Masayuki Hashimoto
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  5. Yasufumi Ohuchi
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  6. Haruhiko Yoshida
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  7. Toshihide Ogawa
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Correspondence to Shuichi Yamamoto.

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Yamamoto, S., Kaminou, T., Ono, Y. et al. Thermal influence of radiofrequency ablation for bone: an experimental study in normal rabbit bone. Skeletal Radiol 43, 459–465 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1807-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1807-0

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