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Description
Spinal metastases represent 90% of spinal masses detected through imaging, necessitating advancements in treatment. Electroporation, a technique using electric energy to alter cancer cell membrane permeability, enhances chemotherapeutic uptake and promotes tumor control. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of using individual and paired electric fields for tissue ablation in healthy bone and critical structures using novel coaxial bipolar electrodes in an ovine model.
Electroporation was performed on sheep vertebral bodies (L2-L4) with electric field intensities delivering at least 3500 J/kg, sufficient to ablate bone tissue. The study assessed effects on surrounding sensitive structures, including peripheral nerves and the spinal cord. Seven days post-procedure, ablation was evident with both single and paired bipolar electrodes. Histological analysis confirmed bone ablation, with absent osteoblasts, pyknotic osteocytes, and empty lacunae, as well as no bone growth indicated by tetracycline fluorescence.
Histomorphometric analysis revealed significant differences in ablated areas: L2 (single electrode) had a mean ablation area of 99.56 ± 18.00 mm², while L3 and L4 (paired electrodes) had significantly larger areas of 238.97 ± 81.44 mm² (p < 0.0005). Importantly, no neurological deficits were observed in the spinal cord or nerves.
The findings suggest that coaxial bipolar electrodes, applied transpedicularly, provide a safe and minimally invasive method to treat spinal tumors and metastases of varying sizes, effectively protecting critical neural structures. This approach offers promising potential for advancing spinal tumor therapies.
