title: The Effect of Irreversible Electroporation on the Femur: Experimental Study in a Rabbit Model.
abstract: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a novel ablation method that has been tested in humans with lung, prostate, kidney, liver, lymph node and presacral cancers. As a new non-thermal treatment, the use of IRE to ablate tumors in the musculoskeletal system might reduce the incidence of fractures. We aimed to determine the ablation threshold of cortical bone and to evaluate the medium- and long-term healing process and mechanical properties of the femur in a rabbit model post-IRE ablation. The ablation threshold of cortical bone was between 1090 V/cm and 1310 V/cm (120 pulses). IRE-ablated femurs displayed no detectable fracture but did exhibit signs of recovery, including osteoblast regeneration, angiogenesis and bone remodeling. In the ablation area, revascularization appeared at 4 weeks post-IRE. Osteogenic activity peaked 8 weeks post-IRE and remained high at 12 weeks. The mechanical strength decreased briefly 4 weeks post-IRE but returned to normal levels within 8 weeks. Our experiment revealed that IRE ablation preserved the structural integrity of the bone cortex, and the ablated bone was able to regenerate rapidly. IRE may hold unique promise for in situ bone tissue ablation because rapid revascularization and active osteogenesis in the IRE ablation area are possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urologic and Pediatric Surgery, NO. 202 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, NO. 5 Guangrong Street, Shenyang, 110003, P.R.China.|Orthopedics Oncology Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army and Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, NO. 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command, NO. 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, 110840, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, NO. 28 Xianning Road, Xi'an, 710049, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Mingwei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, NO. 28 Xianning Road, Xi'an, 710049, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Oncology Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army and Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, NO. 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Oncology Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army and Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, NO. 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Qingyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Oncology Institute of Chinese People's Liberation Army and Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, NO. 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an, 710038, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D005269:Femur / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D023421:Models, Animal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D014945:Wound Healing