A new procedure to treat fractured vertebrae caused by spinal tumors has been developed by a radiologist at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. The procedure developed will potentially decrease the risk of complications experienced by 5-10% of patients with malignant tumors in the spine.

Tumors are first removed in the spine before repairing it with vertebroplasty (a procedure to cement and stabilize damaged vertebrae. To minimize damage to healthy tissue, the technology used is one that utilizes plasma-mediated radiofrequency energy combined with saline solution to gently and precisely remove soft tissue at low temperature.

"This image-guided procedure guarantees ultimate accuracy," said Wade Wong, D.O.F.A.C.R, UCSD professor of radiology, and San Diego clinician Bassem Georgy, M.D. It enables us to provide pain relief and improved mobility to patients while minimizing risks that have traditionally limited treatment options for cancer patients."

Dr. Wong presented this study on May 6 at the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN) that promises relief and increased quality of life to spinal tumor patients.

Read more at EurekAlert.