Comparison of application of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation and open surgery in the treatment of osteoid osteoma of the spine

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation and open surgery in the treatment of osteoid osteoma of the spine. Methods: From June 2012 to June 2016, 45 patients with osteoid osteoma of the spine were treated with CT-guided radiofrequency ablation in 23 cases (Group A) and open surgical resection in 22 cases (Group B). The out-of-bed activity time, visual analogue scale (VAS) in preoperative and postoperative time points, postoperative complications, postoperative antibiotic use, length of hospital stay, total cost, the recurrence rate at two years after operation and other clinical data were compared between the two groups and retrospectively reviewed. Results: The difference in the recurrence rate at one year after operation between Group A and Group B was not statistically significant (P<0.05). And there was no postoperative complication in Group A and Group B. However, patients in Group A had the higher satisfaction degree than Group B (P<0.05). The out-of-bed activity time in Group A was earlier than that of Group B (P<0.05). The antibiotic use in Group A was less than that in Group B (P<0.05). The hospitalization time of Group A was shorter than that of Group B (P<0.05). The total hospitalization cost of Group A was lower than that of Group B (P<0.05). The VAS score of Group A was lower than that of Group B at two hours, three days, one week, one month and three months after operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS score between preoperative and postoperative six months and one year after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion: The surgical safety of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation for osteoid osteoma of the spine is similar to open surgery, but its economic effect and patient comfort are better than those of open surgery. Therefore, CT-guided radiofrequency ablation is a simple, minimally invasive, safe and efficient method in the treatment of spine osteoid osteoma, which is worth promoting.