Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a successful treatment option for patients with painful osteolytic bone metastases, Jason Levy (Northside, Forsyth, and Cherokee Hospitals, Atlanta, USA) and Sandeep Bagla (Vascular Interventional Partners of northern Virginia, Springfield, USA) conclude, discussing the results of the first 100 patients treated in the OPuS One clinical study. In light of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) annual scientific meeting’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bagla also shared these positive data, which were featured in an abstract presentation for the SIR’s virtual event, on 14 June 2020.
“RFA for musculoskeletal metastases is really significantly underutilised,” Levy notes. This led the OPuS One triallists to embark on the largest-ever prospective RFA study, with the aim of collecting more data on this treatment option. In this post-market study, patients were monitored at baseline, and then followed-up three days, one week, one month, three months, and six months after RFA with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared OsteoCool device (Medtronic).
At each of these follow-up time points, patient-reported pain scores improved, Levy and Bagla relate: “These patients were seeing significant pain reductions, significant improvement in quality of life and functionality scores, at three days post RFA. In addition, it was seen at every single time point, and it continued to improve over time.”
On a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the most painful, the mean score for worst pain in the last 24 hours at baseline was 8.2. This fell to 5.6 three days’ post-procedure, and then continue to fall, to 4.7 after one week, 3.9 after one month, 3.7 after three months, and to 3.5 at six months’ follow-up. Enthusing about these results, Bagla says: “That pain improvement, from 8.2 to 5.6, was very rapid in these patients, and that is what is important, and it was durable, even out to six months.”
Function and quality of life scores also showed improvements at each follow-up appointment. The investigators also observed a decrease in transdermal and/or oral narcotic use in 46% of the patients at three months, “which is even more impressive when you take into account that these patients were at end-stage,” Levy opines.
Medtronic sponsored this video and its distribution in association with Interventional News.
