title: Multicenter Prospective Clinical Series Evaluating Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Painful Spine Metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of vertebral body metastases (VBM) has been reported as safe and effective in retrospective studies. This single-arm prospective multicenter clinical study evaluates RFA in the treatment of painful VBM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with VBM were prospectively enrolled during a 13-month period at eight US centers under an IRB-approved study. Percutaneous RFA was performed under imaging guidance with cement augmentation at the discretion of the operator. Pain, disability and quality of life were evaluated at baseline, prior to discharge, days 3, 7, 30 and 90 using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General 7 (FACT-G7) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Quality-of-Life Measurement in Patients with Bone Pain (FACT-BP). Adverse events were monitored throughout this time interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six male and 24 female patients (mean age 61.0) underwent 69 treatments (30 thoracic and 39 lumbar). Cement augmentation was performed in 96 % of reported levels. Significant improvement in mean scores for pain, disability and cancer-specific health-related quality of life from baseline to all time intervals was seen. NRPS improved from 5.9 to 2.1 (p < 0.0001). ODI improved from 52.9 to 37.0 (p < 0.08). FACT-G7 improved form 10.9 to 16.2 (p = 0.0001). FACT-BP improved from 22.6 to 38.9 (p < 0.001). No complications related to the procedure were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA with cement augmentation safely and effectively reduces pain and disability rapidly, while increasing quality of life in patients suffering from vertebral body metastases.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Institute of Virginia, LLC, 14085 Crown Ct., Woodbridge, VA, 22193, USA. sandeep.bagla@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagla
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Dawood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sayed
authors.affiliation: New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smirniotopoulos
authors.affiliation: Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital, Spokane, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Jayson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brower
authors.affiliation: Seton Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neal Rutledge
authors.affiliation: Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.affiliation: St. Mark's Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carlisle
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ilya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lekht
authors.affiliation: San Diego Imaging, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Bassem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Georgy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements
keywords: Cement augmentation; Radiofrequency ablation; Spinal metastases; Vertebral augmentation; Vertebral body metastases