A narrative review of the application of radiofrequency ablation in the surgery of spinal metastases

Abstract

Spinal metastasis is one of the common complications in the late stage of cancer, which seriously threatens human life and health. The invasion of malignant tumor often leads to pathological fracture of vertebral body, compression of spinal cord and nerve, etc., which leads to cancer pain and nerve injury symptoms. At present, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with vertebroplasty is a safe and effective minimally invasive method for the treatment of spinal metastases, which has unique advantages in relieving pain, improving neurological function, reducing incidence of fracture and the risk of surgery, and improving life quality in spinal metastases patients. This article reviews the state of art of RFA in the surgical treatment of spinal metastases.