ABSTRACT
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical outcomes of
patients with single spinal
metastasis of thoracic, lumbar or
sacral vertebra treated with
microwave ablation in situ.
Methods:
For 28
patients with single spinal
metastasis of thoracic, lumbar or
sacral vertebra, detailed and personal surgical plans were carried out. Instead of en bloc resection,
hyperthermia ablation in situ was performed followed by strengthening
procedures under the guidance of G-
arm fluoroscopy machine. Intraoperatively,
spinal cord and nerve root were properly protected. The
bone defects were reconstructed by
bone cement after the diseased lesions were revomed. All
patients were followed up for almost 1 year postoperatively. During follow-up,
X-ray and MRI images were obtained, and the level of
pain and neurologic outcomes were also examined.
Results:
All 28
patients successfully received
microwave ablation in situ. The average ablation
time was approximately 8 minutes and the average amount of
bone cement implanted was approximately 10.5 ml. The
pain scores of digital
pain classification before and 3 months after operation were 7.86±1.58 and 3.07±1.89( P<0.05). The postoperative neurological function of 22
patients was improved than that before operation. No significant changes were observed in 5
patients. The neurological function of the affected
limb was relieved, whereas the symptoms of the healthy
limb were slightly worse in the remaining case.
Conclusions:
Microwave ablation in situ is a feasible and effective surgical
method for single spinal
metastasis of thoracic, lumbar or
sacral vertebra. It might possess many advantages, such as clear surgical field, smaller incisions, less
bleeding, and safe margins during the operations. Further more, it could significantly relieve
pain, restrict
tumor growth, and improve the
quality of life of
patients. It is an innovative and distinctive
therapeutic alternative for single spinal
metastasis, which deserves widespread application.