Transforaminal Insertion of a Thermocouple on the Posterior Vertebral Wall Combined with Hydrodissection during Lumbar Spinal Radiofrequency Ablation

SUMMARY:

The purpose of the present article is to describe the technique of transforaminal insertion of an ultrathin thermosensor in the anterior epidural space in 13 patients treated by radiofrequency ablation. The mean time taken to position the thermosensor was 10.6 minutes (range, 5–38 minutes). Technical success was 93% (correct positioning in 13/14 levels). Additional hydrodissection was performed through the same access in 11 cases. No postoperative neural deficit was elicited in any of the cases.

Inadvertent thermal ablation of neural structures located in the lumbar canal is a rare but potentially debilitating complication following percutaneous thermal ablation of lesions located in the vertebral body, if the expected ablation zone abuts the posterior wall of the vertebra.^1–3 Using a thermosensor, one can monitor local temperatures to ensure that threshold temperatures are not breached in a critical area.^4,5 However, precise positioning of the thermometer at an ideal interface between the lumbar spine and the dural sac can be challenging. We herein aim to describe the technique of transforaminal insertion of an ultrathin thermocouple into the anterior epidural space while performing radiofrequency ablation of spinal metastases to monitor the temperature at the interface between the posterior part of the vertebral body and the dura.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective study. All patients gave informed consent for the procedure. Institutional review board approval was waived.

Study Population and Procedures

Between April 2015 and August 2018, thirteen patients (7 women, 6 men; mean age, 60.8 years) with 14 lumbar tumors were treated in our institution using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and associated planned local temperature monitoring using the transforaminal approach. Patient, lesion, and RFA characteristics are listed in Table 1.

Table 1:

Patients, lesions, and RFA characteristics

Patient	Age (yr)	Primary Cancer	Lesion No.	Level	Posterior Cortex Disruption	Epidural Involvement	RFA Type (Device, Company)
1	55	Colon	1	L1	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)a
2	78	Bladder	1	L2	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
3	46	Breast	1	L1	No	No	Monopolar RFA (Cool-tip; Medtronic)
4	66	Kidney	1	L2	No	Yes	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
5	52	Breast	1	L3	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
			2	L4	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
6	73	Lung	1	L1	No	No	Bipolar RFA (STAR; Merrit Medical)b
7	70	Melanoma	1	L1	No	Yes	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
8	76	Lung	1	L2	Yes	Yes	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
9	64	Breast	1	L1	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
10	63	Lung	1	L4	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
11	67	Rectum	1	L3	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
12	41	Lung	1	L1	No	No	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)
13	40	Breast	1	L3	Yes	Yes	Bipolar RFA (OsteoCool; Medtronic)

^aMedtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

^bMerit Medical, South Jordan, Utah.

All procedures were performed with the patient under general anesthesia in the prone position, with either conebeam CT guidance (n = 7 patients) or combined CT and fluoroscopic guidance (n = 1), depending on room availability at the time of treatment. Thermal ablation was conducted according to the manufacturer's recommendations. If the temperature exceeded 45° and was not controllable with active hydrodissection, RFA was stopped. After completion of the ablation, additional cementoplasty was performed to ensure bone consolidation and reduce the risk of secondary postablation fracture.

Technique of the Double-Oblique Transforaminal Approach

Optimal insertion of the thermometer requires a double-oblique approach; the ideal trajectory is from cranial to caudal and from lateral to medial (Figs 1 and 2). First, an 18-ga spinal needle is advanced in the very medial part of the foramen. Subsequently, a 20-cm-long, 28-ga reusable monopolar nitinol radiofrequency electrode (MultGen; Stryker, Kalamazoo, Michigan) is inserted coaxially through the spinal needle and gently advanced. Although little resistance can be felt, the electrode should be advanced until it reaches the posterior vertebral wall/posterior part of the tumor. The electrode is used only for its capacity to display the temperature (and is therefore referred to as a thermosensor). The various steps of the double-oblique transforaminal approach are presented in Fig 3.

Fig 1.

Double-oblique transforaminal approach on fluoroscopy (patient 12). Anterior-posterior (A) and lateral (B) fluoroscopic projections demonstrate the tip of the thermosensor (white arrow) just posterior to the vertebral body, at its mid portion (B), and in the midline (A), thanks to an oblique approach in both anterior-posterior and lateral views.

Fig 2.

Representation and principle of the double-oblique approach. A, Drawing from a sagittal perspective. The craniocaudal approach in the sagittal plane enables going through the posterior and inferior parts of the foramen, away from the radicular nerve and vessels. B, Drawing from an oblique axial view (in the axis of the sagittal angulation). The lateromedial approach allows slipping along the facet joint with the 18-ga needle (arrow), away from the nerve and vessels (arrowhead). The 28-ga thermosensor (dotted arrows) can then be advanced into the anterior epidural space toward the posterior wall of the vertebral body.

Fig 3.

Fluoroscopic details of the technique of the transforaminal approach. A, The craniocaudal angulation in the sagittal plane is estimated on the lateral projection to point the 18-ga needle (white arrow) used as a landmark on the skin of the patient toward the posterior and inferior parts of the foramen. B, The 35° oblique view (from the anterior-posterior view) is then used to define the distance of the entry point laterally. The 18-ga spinal needle (arrow) should be pointed toward the lateral part of the facet joint (dotted line). C, The needle is advanced in the oblique view toward the foramen. D, Once in the vicinity of the foramen, the lateral view confirms that the needle enters it at its posterior and inferior parts. E, Satisfactory localization of the needle tip (arrow) inside the foramen is confirmed on anterior-posterior projection. F, The 28-ga thermosensor (dotted arrow) is gently advanced into the canal until it reaches the midline (G), where resistance is felt. H, At this point, the tip of the thermometer (dotted arrow) should be located at the middle portion of the vertebral body on the lateral view.

Additionally, hydrodissection using dextrose mixed with contrast (50:50 ratio for optimal visualization) can be combined with temperature monitoring. Here, before the insertion of the thermosensor, a Y-valve is connected to the hub of the 18-ga needle, and once the thermosensor has been introduced through the distal port of the valve, fluid may be injected through the lateral port (Fig 4).

Fig 4.

Thermal monitoring combined with hydrodissection. A, Lateral fluoroscopic view demonstrates the 18-ga needle in the foramen (arrow) and the thermosensor in contact with the posterior wall (dotted arrow). B, Conebeam CT acquisition with reconstruction in the axis of the needle and thermometer confirms the findings of fluoroscopy with the 18-ga needle (arrow) and the thermosensor (dotted arrow). C, Lateral view after injection of dextrose mixed with contrast shows satisfactory diffusion of the fluid into the anterior epidural space (white asterisks) separating the dural sac from the vertebral body. D, This is again outlined on the conebeam CT acquisition, which demonstrates the hydrodissection (black asterisk) between the posterior wall and the dural sac.

RESULTS

Detailed results are listed in Table 2. The mean time to optimally position the thermosensor was 10.6 minutes (range, 5–38 minutes). There was a single case requiring >12 minutes for thermosensor insertion (a case requiring conebeam CT acquisition). Optimal positioning was achieved in 13 cases with a technical success rate of 93%. In the case considered unsuccessful, the thermometer was in the epidural space but 4 mm cranial and 5 mm lateral to the optimum, desired end point. Additional hydrodissection was performed through the same access in 11 cases and was effective in all cases except 2 (both cases with epidural extension). The mean maximal temperature displayed by the thermosensor was 42° (range, 39°–45°). None of the cases had premature stoppage of ablation. In a single case (performed with monopolar RFA), continuous irrigation of the anterior epidural space had to be performed to maintain the temperature at 45°. No postoperative neural deficits were encountered. MR imaging was performed in the early postoperative period in all patients within a mean of 13 days (range, 1–30 days) with no evidence of epidural hematoma, and fluid had completely reabsorbed in all patients who had benefited from additional hydrodissection.

Table 2:

Results of transforaminal approach

Patient	Foramen	Guidance	Time (min)	Obliquity in the Sagittal Plane	Technical Successa	Hydrodissection	Maximal Temperature (°C)
1	T12–L1	Fluoro	11	40°	Yes	Yes, effective	39
2	L1–L2	Fluoro	11	40°	Yes	Yes, effective	41
3	T12–L1	CT & fluoro	9	36°	Yes	Yes, effective	45
4	L1–L2	Fluoro	12	35°	Yes	No	45
5	L2–L3	Fluoro	10	43°	Yes	Yes, effective	43
	L3–L4	Fluoro	6	38°	Yes	No	44
6	T12–L1	CT & fluoro	7	42°	Yes	Yes, effective	41
7	T12–L1	Fluoro	8	44°	Yes	Yes, ineffective	44
8	L1–L2	Fluoro & CBCT	38	33°	No (4 mm too cranial and 5 mm too lateral)	Yes, ineffective	39
9	T12–L1	Fluoro	5	36°	Yes	Yes, effective	43
10	L3–L4	Fluoro	8	47°	Yes	Yes, effective	38
11	L2–L3	CT & fluoro	9	37°	Yes	Yes, effective	39
12	T12–L1	CT & fluoro	7	47°	Yes	Yes, effective	45
13	L2–L3	CT & fluoro	7	44°	Yes	No	42

Note:—Fluoro indicates fluoroscopy; CBCT, conbeam CT.

^aTechnical success was defined by a position of the thermosensor in the midline on anteroposterior view and at the midportion of the posterior wall on lateral view.

DISCUSSION

As demonstrated in this case series, the transforaminal insertion of a small thermosensor into the anterior epidural space at the midlevel of a vertebral body is technically feasible, can be performed with stand-alone fluoroscopy, and adds little time to the procedure. Double-oblique access is mandatory to access the midlevel of the vertebral body wall because it allows lining up of the thermosensor with the ideal trajectory. Because the thermocouple is very thin, a more direct approach (similar to a discal puncture) cannot achieve such positioning because the thermometer will not “take the curve” along the posterior part of the vertebral body. The craniocaudal approach should always be favored to avoid transgressing the danger zone located at the anterior and superior parts of the foramina, which contains the radicular nerve and adjacent vessels.⁶ The double-oblique approach allows the safest passage (posterior and inferior) through the foramen.^7,8 In the aging spine, the anatomy of the foramen can, however, be modified by a bulging disc and/or osteophytes. Careful examination of the planning CT is therefore recommended before thermosensor insertion.

Although more challenging than a posterior epidural or a straight transforaminal approach, the technique is the only method to access the anterior epidural space at exactly the level of the RFA probes where fluctuations in local temperature are believed to be the most critical because of the shape and extent of the expected ablation zone. Moreover, it can easily be combined with hydrodissection, which allows separation of the dural sac from the ablation area if the tumor does not extend into the anterior epidural fat. The major challenge of the technique is to precisely navigate through the foramen under fluoroscopy with a double-oblique approach. Any deviation from the ideal trajectory might lead to either a suboptimal position or the impossibility of advancing the thermosensor because of bony interposition.

In this series, we had a single case in which active fluid injection was required to maintain the local temperature at a maximum threshold of 45°. This excellent safety profile of ablation might be explained by the preferential use of dedicated bone bipolar RFA devices that are known not to diffuse through an intact osseous cortex and form smaller, precise, and more predictable ablation zones than other ablation techniques (cryoablation, microwave, monopolar RFA).^2,9 Nevertheless, local thermal monitoring gives extra confidence and reassurance to the operating physician who can follow the real-time evolution of local temperatures, thereby increasing the safety profile of the procedure, even though the present study is not powered enough to statistically prove it. This technique is particularly useful if the procedure is being performed with the patient under general anesthesia without access to intraprocedural neurophysiologic testing to monitor neural conduction.¹⁰ It can theoretically be used in combination with all heat- or cold-based ablation modalities (RFA, microwave, laser, cryoablation) to avoid breaching above 45° or below 0°, which are known to be the neurotoxic threshold temperatures.¹¹ Although favorable and with many potential uses, this technique is unfortunately not transferable to the dorsal spine because of the interposition of the ribs, which preclude a required steeper sagittal approach. The present study is limited by the small cohort of patients, which does not allow definitive conclusions regarding efficacy and safety. Moreover, all the procedures were performed by interventional radiologists trained in the spinal procedure, likely representing a bias in terms of reproducibility.

ABBREVIATION:

RFA

radiofrequency ablation