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9101 Background: Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) can destroy tissue in a defined area. Single institutions have reported that RFA can reduce pain from bone metastases. To confirm this, the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) completed a multicenter study of RFA for bone metastases. Methods: Eligible patients had bone pain in one dominant site: tumor size < 8 cm, and location > 1 cm from the spinal cord or cauda equina. RFA was performed under CT guidance. The Memorial Pain Assessment Card was used prior to RFA and repeated daily for two weeks, and at 1 and 3 months after RFA. AEs were recorded in addition to four different pain assessment measures: pain relief, patient mood, pain intensity, and pain severity. Results: Fifty-six patients had RFA at 9 centers. Metastatic sites were pelvis (24), chest wall (19), thoracolumbar spine (8), and extremities (5). Six out of 56 patients experienced at least one adverse event of grade 3 or higher, yielding an AE rate of 10.7% (95%CI is 2.6% to18.8%). AEs attributed directly to RFA were nerve injury in 2 patients. Of the 56 participants, 43 completed the 1 month follow-up and 33 completed the 3 month follow-up. At the time of this analysis, assuming that missing data were missing at random and after adjusting for all covariates, RFA showed significant effect in reducing pain at 1 and 3 month follow-up for all 4 pain assessment measures. The average increase in pain relief from pre-RFA to 1 month follow-up is 26.4 (P<0.0001) and the increase from pre-RFA to 3 month follow-up is 17.2 (P=0.003). The average increase in mood from pre-RFA to 1 month follow-up is 21.5 (P<0.0001) and the increase from pre-RFA to 3 month follow-up is 16.3 (P=0.001). The average decrease in pain intensity from pre-RFA to 1 month follow-up is 25.9 (P<0.0001) and the decrease from pre-RFA to 3 month follow-up is 13.0 (P=0.02). The odds of being in lower pain severity at 1 month follow-up is 12.6 (P<.0001) times higher than that at pre-RFA, and the odds at 3 month follow-up is 7.1 (P<0.0001) times higher than that at pre- RFA. Conclusions: This cooperative group trial confirms that RFA can safely palliate pain due to bone metastases. ACRIN receives funding from the National Cancer Institute through the grants U01 CA079778 and U01 CA080098. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The purpose of this study was to document the pattern of ligament and meniscal injuries that occur during high-energy tibial plateau fractures. One hundred three patients with fractures due to high-energy mechanisms were evaluated with knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All studies were read by a single musculoskeletal radiologist who was blinded to surgical and physical exam findings. Pertinent demographic information was obtained. There were 66 patients with AO/OTA type 41C fractures and 37 patients with AO/OTA type 41B fractures. Seventy-three (71%) patients tore at least one major ligament group, and 55 (53%) patients tore multiple ligaments. There were 53 torn ligaments in AO/OTA type 41C fractures (80%) compared with 20 torn ligaments in AO/OTA type 41B fractures (54%) (p < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Using Schatzker's classification, we found the following correlation: type I, 13 fractures with 6 ligaments (46%); type II, 11 fractures with 5 ligaments (45%); type IV, 13 fractures with 9 ligaments (69%); type V, 13 fractures with 11 ligaments (85%); and type VI, 53 fractures with 42 ligaments (79%). A significant difference exists between the groups regarding the incidence of ligament injuries (p < 0.05) and also regarding high-energy (type IV, V, VI) versus low-energy (type I, II, III) fracture patterns. The incidence of knee dislocation was 32% for AO/OTA type 41B fractures and 23% for AO/OTA type 41C fractures. Knee dislocations (dislocated on presentation, bicruciate injury, or at least three ligament groups torn with a dislocatable knee) were most common in Schatzker type IV fractures (46%). Fifty patients sustained meniscus tears (49%), with 25 medial menisci and 35 lateral menisci injuries. Tibial plateau fractures frequently have important soft tissue injuries that are difficult to diagnose on physical examination. High-energy fracture patterns (AO/OTA type 41C or Schatzker type IV, V, VI) clearly have a significantly higher incidence of ligament injury, and these patients should be carefully evaluated to rule out a spontaneously reduced knee dislocation. We believe MRI scanning should be considered for tibial plateau fractures due to high-energy mechanism, allowing identification and treatment of associated soft tissue injuries.

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