Publication

The cryosurgical ablation of bone tissue by means of a new miniature cryoprobe -- evaluation of the probe and adaption of the method to in vitro human bone

Journal Paper/Review - Apr 1, 2002

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Popken F, Bertram C, König P, Rütt J, Land M, Hackenbroch M. The cryosurgical ablation of bone tissue by means of a new miniature cryoprobe -- evaluation of the probe and adaption of the method to in vitro human bone. Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery 2002; 122:129-33.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery 2002; 122
Publication Date
Apr 1, 2002
Issn Print
0936-8051
Pages
129-33
Brief description/objective

Until now, modern miniature cryoprobes have been used successfully for the local destruction of soft-tissue tumors without damaging adjacent healthy tissue. In this study, the methodology of cryoablation was applied to bone, and the freezing effect as well as the cooling capacity of the probe were examined. Freezing was performed by cooling one or two probes, with a diameter of 3.2 mm, to -180 degrees C with liquid nitrogen. The cooling capacity of the probes was determined under optic and thermic control in a homogenous reference gel (gelatin), followed by an in vitro measurement on human bone. The simultaneous use of 2 probes resulted in a synergistic effect which produced an almost spherical expansion of frozen area in the homogenous gelatin. In vitro freezing of human tibiae produced equivalent freezing temperatures, with one or two probes, in comparison to the homogenous gelatin. An adequate tissue cooling of bone matrix can be achieved through the use of one or more miniature cryoprobes so that after in vivo testing, the use of this probe could possibly become an alternative or supplement to the surgical resection of pathologic bone processes.