title: Temperature in and around the scapholunate ligament during radiofrequency shrinkage: a cadaver study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether applied radiofrequency energy (RFE) for shrinkage of the scapholunate interosseus ligament reaches temperatures required for ligament shrinkage while leaving adjacent structures unaffected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard wrist arthroscopy was performed on 7 pairs of cadaveric limbs with continuous saline irrigation and gravity-assisted outflow through an 18-gauge needle. We subjected 14 scapholunate ligaments to treatment with monopolar (n = 7) or bipolar (n = 7) RFE for ligament shrinkage. Temperature was recorded simultaneously inside the dorsal part of the scapholunate interosseus ligament at a depth of 0.9 ± 0.1 mm and at 6 other sites in and around the wrist because thermal shrinkage starts at 60°C to 65°C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed an increase in temperature corresponding to the time of energy application. The highest measured peak temperatures at the scapholunate ligament were 43°C (monopolar) and 32°C (bipolar). Mean temperatures at 30 seconds of application were 29°C ± 7°C (monopolar) and 28°C ± 3°C (bipolar).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Temperatures sufficiently high to induce ligament shrinkage were not reached with either monopolar or bipolar RFE. We did not monitor temperature levels responsible for damage on adjacent cartilage or immediately adjacent capsular tissue in this setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that RFE for capsular shrinkage in the wrist is safe but ineffective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: michaela1.huber@ukr.de.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loibl
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zellner
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kujat
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nerlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gehmert
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012667:Lunate Bone / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008954:Models, Biological; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D062125:Thermometry
keywords: RFE; SL ligament; Temperature; thermal shrinkage