Radiation exposure during basivertebral nerve radiofrequency ablations.

BACKGROUND

Basivertebral nerve radiofrequency ablations (BVNRFA) is a relatively new procedure that has demonstrated positive effects to treat chronic low back pain. Fluoroscopy guidance is utilized to access the vertebral body via the pedicle and confirm the correct location of the probe for ablation. Radiation exposure during this procedure has not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the average fluoroscopic time and radiation exposure during BVNRFA.

METHODS

Patients treated with BVNRFA that had failed conservative treatment, with primarily midline back pain, and corroborating Modic type I or Modic type II changes on MRI at a tertiary academic spine center were retrospectively analyzed. Chart review was conducted to obtain patient demographics, fluoroscopic time and radiation exposure, involvement of trainees, and vertebral levels treated. Average fluoroscopic and radiation exposure was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 55 patients were included in this study. The average fluoroscopic time was 152.5 s (±84.3 s). The average cumulative dose was 70.3 mGy (±53.0 mGy) and the average dose area product was 7.9 mGy·cm2 (±5.2 mGy·cm2).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that the average fluoroscopic time during BVNRFA to be about 2 and a half minutes.