Purpose: To present the technique of combined temperature monitoring and hydrodissection of the anterior epidural space during thermal ablation in the thoracic spine.
Materials and methods: Data from 8 patients were retrieved retrospectively with thoracic spinal metastases located near the posterior wall of the vertebral body. Thermal ablation was performed with temperature monitoring and hydrodissection of the anterior epidural space.
Results: Technical success, defined as a fulfilled ablation protocol without changes of the temperature of the epidural space below 10°/above 45° that could not be controlled by active hydrodissection, was 100%. The mean time to deploy the thermosensor was 19.5 ± 4.8 min (range 13-35). There was one post-operative transient intercostal neuralgia. No spinal cord or nerve root injuries arose. Two local recurrences occurred at a mean follow-up of 20 ± 9 months.
Conclusion: Transosseous temperature monitoring of the anterior epidural space in the thoracic spine is a feasible technique and seems safe.
Keywords: Radiology; ablation techniques; interventionnal; metastase; spine.