title: RFE based chondroplasty in wrist arthroscopy indicates high risk for chrondocytes especially for the bipolar application.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The application of radiofrequency energy (RFE) has become widespread for surgical performed chondroplasty especially due to the anticipated sealing effect, however the safety of this procedure in the wrist remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the subchondral temperature during radiofrequency energy (RFE) application simulating chondroplasty in an arthroscopic setting of the wrist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chondroplasty of the lunate fossa was performed during an arthroscopy setting on 14 cadaver arms using monopolar or bipolar RFE. The temperature was recorded simultaneously from 7 predefined anatomical landmarks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean temperature for both application modes did not exceed more than 30°C at all measured points, except for the lunate fossa. The highest subchondral measured peak temperature was 49.35°C (monopolar) and 69.21°C (bipolar) in the lunate fossa. In addition, the temperature decreased for both radiofrequency (RF) devices depending on the distance of the sensors to the RF-probe.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It remains to be questionable how safe RFE can be used for chondroplasty in wrist arthroscopy under continuous irrigation and constant movement to obtain the desired sealing effect. However, the bipolar device should be applied with more caution since peak temperature in the lunate fossa almost reached 70°C even under continuous irrigation.
authors: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. michaela1.huber@ukr.de.
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: Huber
authors: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. christoph.eder@ukr.de.
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Eder
authors: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. markus.loibl@ukr.de.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Loibl
authors: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. arne.berner@ukr.de.
authors: Arne
authors: A
authors: Berner
authors: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. johannes.zellner@ukr.de.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Zellner
authors: Center for Medical Biotechnology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. richard.kujat@ukr.de.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Kujat
authors: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany. michael.nerlich@ukr.de.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Nerlich
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. sebastian.gehmert@gmail.com.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Gehmert
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013696:Temperature; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
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