Travis J. Hillen

The evaluation and treatment of adolescents and young adults with hip pain has seen tremendous growth over the past 20 years. Labral tears are well established as a common cause of hip pain but often occur because of underlying bony abnormalities. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and acetabular dysplasia are now well-established causes of hip osteoarthritis and are increasingly treated in the prearthritic stage in hopes of improving symptoms and prolonging the longevity of the native hip. Beyond FAI and acetabular dysplasia, this patient population can present with a complex and variable group of underlying conditions that need to be taken into account. Expertise in the conservative management of this population, including physical therapy, is valuable to maximize the success. Preoperative, surgical, and postoperative decision-making and care in this population is complex and evolving. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the care of this patient population has been used for over 20 years by our institution with great success. The purpose of this article is to review the “team-based approach” necessary for successful management of the spectrum of adolescent and young adult hip disorders.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: CT-guided head and neck biopsies can be challenging due to the anatomy and adjacent critical structures but can often obviate the need for open biopsy. A few studies and review articles have described approaches to biopsy in the head and neck. This retrospective study evaluated technical considerations, histopathologic yield, and safety in CT-guided head and neck core needle biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of head and neck biopsies performed from January 2013 through December 2019 was conducted. Clinical diagnosis and indication, patient demographics, mass location and size, biopsy needle type, technical approach, dose-length product, sedation details, complications, diagnostic histopathologic yield, and the use of iodinated contrast were recorded for each case. RESULTS: A total of 27 CT-guided head and neck core needle biopsies were performed in 26 patients. The diagnostic sample rate was 100% (27/27). A concordant histopathologic diagnosis was obtained in 93% (25/27) of cases. There was a single complication of core needle biopsy, a small asymptomatic superficial hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous CT-guided biopsy of deep masses in the head and neck is safe and effective with careful biopsy planning and has a high diagnostic yield that can obviate the need for open biopsy.

Background: Prior trials provide strong evidence supporting minimally invasive sacroiliac joint (SIJ) fusion using triangular titanium implants (TTI) for chronic SIJ dysfunction. Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of SIJF using a 3D-printed TTI. Methods: Fifty-one subjects with carefully diagnosed SIJ dysfunction underwent SIJF with 3D TTI. Subjects completed pain, disability and quality of life questionnaires at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Functional tests were performed in the clinic at each visit. Pelvic CT scans were independently evaluated for radiolucency, bridging bone and other endpoints. Results: Ninety percent had 12-month follow-up. Dysfunction due to pain (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]) decreased from 52.8 at baseline to 27.9 at 12 months (p< .0001 for change, p=.004 for non-inferiority primary hypothesis). SIJ pain scores improved from 78 preoperatively to 21 at 12-month follow-up (P< .0001). Ninety-six percent experienced an improvement of 20 points or more in VAS SIJ pain by month 12. The percentage of subjects reporting minimal difficulty performing physical activities typically impaired by back/SIJ pain improved significantly for all activities. The proportion of subjects taking opioids for SIJ pain decreased from 57% to 22%. Three physical function tests improved markedly from baseline to 1 year. Positive radiographic findings were observed, including a 70% and 77% rate of bone bridging observed at 6 and 12 months, respectively. There was no evidence of device breakage, migration or subsidence. Conclusion: In this prospective multicenter trial, SIJF with 3D-printed TTI markedly improved pain, disability and quality of life. Results are consistent with 3 prior prospective multicenter trials of a milled implant but suggest accelerated bony fusion with the newer implant. Physical function improved, and high rates of opioid cessation were observed. Level of Evidence: Level II.

PURPOSE Percutaneous cementoplasty is a minimally invasive treatment modality for painful osteoporotic and pathologic sacral and supra-acetabular iliac fractures. This study compares the use of low-dose CT guidance with CT/CT fluoroscopy in sacral and supra-acetabular cementoplasty. METHODS A retrospective review of patients who had undergone sacral or supra-acetabular cementoplasty was performed with patients grouped by use of CT/CT fluoroscopy or low-dose CT guidance during the procedure. Parameters evaluated included type of fracture, laterality of lesions, pain scores, pain medication use, imaging parameters, procedure time, dose-length product, effective dose, cement volume, and complications. RESULTS There were 17 patients identified who underwent cementoplasty utilizing dual CT/CT fluoroscopy, while 13 patients had their procedures performed with low-dose CT. There was a statistically significant decrease in radiation dose in the low-dose CT group (1481 mGy.cm) compared with the CT/CT fluoroscopy group (2809 mGy.cm) (P = 0.013). There was a significant decrease in procedure time with low-dose CT for bilateral lesions (P = 0.016). There was no significant difference between groups in complication rate (P = 0.999). Clinically nonsignificant cement extravasation occurred in two patients (10%) in the CT/CT fluoroscopy group and in one patient (8%) in the low-dose CT group (P = 0.999). There was a significant decrease in pain scores compared with baseline on the visual analogue scale in both groups at 1 week (low-dose CT P = 0.002, CT/CT fluoroscopy P = 0.008) and 1 month postprocedure (low-dose CT P = 0.014, CT/CT fluoroscopy P = 0.004), but no difference between groups at 1 day (P = 0.196), 1 week (P = 0.368), or 1 month (P = 0.514). CONCLUSION Sacral and supra-acetabular cementoplasties can be performed safely and precisely using low-dose multiple-acquisition CT guidance while providing significant radiation dose reduction with no difference in extravasation rates, postprocedural pain reduction, and complications compared with CT/CT fluoroscopy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although percutaneous musculoskeletal biopsies are routinely performed in the axial and appendicular skeleton, there are no published data on the systematic evaluation of the feasibility, safety, and diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous skull biopsy. In certain clinical encounters such as patients with primary skull tumors or patients with known cancer and isolated skull lesions suspected of calvarial metastasis or synchronous primary tumor, percutaneous skull biopsy may be considered a viable option. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety profile, and diagnostic yield of percutaneous CT-guided skull biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous CT-guided skull biopsy was performed in 14 patients. Patient demographics, cancer history, indication for initial imaging, imaging technique of diagnosis, skull tumor anatomic location, and final histologic diagnosis were documented. Preprocedural imaging of each skull lesion was reviewed to determine tumor size and characteristics. Procedural notes were reviewed to determine the total conscious sedation time or anesthesia time, type of biopsy needle, and the number and length of obtained core specimens. Procedure-related complications were also documented according to the Society of Interventional Radiology classification. RESULTS: All CT-guided percutaneous skull biopsy procedures were performed as preoperatively planned and were technically successful. Procedures were performed with the patient under conscious sedation in 93% (13/14) of cases. Definitive histologic diagnosis was achieved in 86% (12/14) of cases. There were no acute or delayed procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this retrospective initial study suggest that percutaneous CT-guided skull biopsy is feasible with an excellent safety profile, affords a high diagnostic yield for histologic characterization, and may obviate more invasive open skull biopsies.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation combined with vertebral augmentation has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment for patients with vertebral metastases who do not respond to or have contraindications to radiation therapy. The prevalence of posterior vertebral body metastases presents access and treatment challenges in the unique anatomy of the spine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of simultaneous bipedicular radiofrequency ablation using articulating bipolar electrodes combined with vertebral augmentation for local tumor control of spinal metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imaging-guided simultaneous bipedicular radiofrequency ablation combined with vertebral augmentation was performed in 27 patients (33 tumors) with vertebral metastases selected following multidisciplinary consultations, to achieve local tumor control in this retrospective study. Tumor characteristics, procedural details, and complications were documented. Pre- and postprocedural cross-sectional imaging was evaluated to assess local tumor control rates. RESULTS: Thirty-three tumors were successfully ablated in 27 patients. Posterior vertebral body or pedicle involvement or both were present in 94% (31/33) of cases. Sixty-seven percent (22/33) of the tumors involved ≥75% of the vertebral body volume. Posttreatment imaging was available for 79% (26/33) of the treated tumors. Local tumor control was achieved in 96% (25/26) of tumors median imaging follow up of 16 weeks. No complications were reported, and no patients had clinical evidence of metastatic spinal cord compression at the treated levels. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous bipedicular radiofrequency ablation combined with vertebral augmentation is safe and effective for local tumor control of vertebral metastases. Articulating bipolar electrodes enable the placement and proximity necessary for optimal confluence of the ablation zones. Local tumor control may lead to more durable pain palliation, prevent disease progression, and reduce skeletal-related events of the spine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cervical spine biopsies can be challenging due to the anatomy and the adjacent critical structures. Percutaneous image-guided biopsies can obviate the need for an open biopsy, however there have been few studies looking at the approaches, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous cervical spine biopsies. This retrospective study evaluated technical considerations, histopathologic and microbiologic yield, and safety in CT-guided cervical bone biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of cervical bone and/or bone/disc biopsies performed from January 2010 to January 2017 was included in this study. Clinical diagnosis and indication, patient demographics, biopsy location, biopsy needle type, technical approach, lesion size, dose-length product, conscious sedation details, complications, and diagnostic histopathologic and/or microbiologic yield were recorded for each case and summarized. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients underwent CT-guided cervical bone biopsies. Fifty-three percent (39/73) were for clinical/imaging concern for infection and 47% (34/73) were for primary tumors or metastatic disease. Thirty-four percent (25/73) were of the inferior cervical spine (ie, C6 and C7). A sufficient sample was obtained for histopathologic and microbiologic analyses in 96% (70/73) of the biopsies. Forty-six percent (18/39) of those samples taken for infection had positive cultures. Two intraprocedural complications occurred in which the patients became hypotensive during the procedure without long-term complications. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous CT-guided biopsy of the cervical spine is an effective and safe procedure with high diagnostic yield and can obviate open procedures for histopathologic and microbiologic analyses of patients with clinical and imaging findings concerning for infection or primary and metastatic osseous lesions.