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Published on: April 26, 2024
Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for synovial hyperplasia
Qi Xu1, Xiao-Hui Xu2, Ze-Zheng Liu1
1Department of Ultrasound, Third Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University, Wenzhou Third Clinical Institute Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou People's Hospital, Wenzhou, China.
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of synovial hyperplasia in the knee joints of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) model rabbits.
Methods:
Forty Japanese large-eared white rabbits were divided into AIA and control groups. After successful induction of the AIA model, the knee joints were randomly assigned to RFA and non-RFA groups. The RFA group underwent ultrasound-guided RFA to treat synovial hyperplasia in the knee joint. Dynamic observation of various detection indices was conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the RFA procedure.
Results:
Successful synovial ablation was achieved in the RFA group, with no intraoperative or perioperative mortality. Postoperative the circumference of the knee joint reached a peak before decreasing in the third week after surgery. The incidence and diameter of postoperative skin ulcers were not significantly different compared to the non-RFA group (p > .05). Anatomical examination revealed an intact intermuscular fascia around the ablated area in the RFA group. The ablated synovial tissue initially presented as a white mass, which subsequently liquefied into a milky white viscous fluid. Gross articular cartilage was observed, along with liquefied necrosis of the synovium on pathological histology and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the surrounding soft tissue.
Conclusion:
The experimental results demonstrated that ultrasound-guided RFA of the knee in the treatment of synovial hyperplasia in AIA model animals was both effective and safe.
