Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., offers a minimally invasive procedure to stabilize bones weakened by metastatic cancer, a technique available at few U.S. centers.
The photodynamic bone stabilization system uses a balloon catheter filled with a light-cured polymer to reinforce fractures or near-fractures in metastatic bone. Orthopedic oncology surgeons guide the device using CT and fluoroscopy to fill lesions and harden the polymer in place, according to a Feb. 25 news release.
The procedure offers an option for patients who are not candidates for joint replacement and carries a low infection risk due to its percutaneous approach. Surgeons may also obtain tissue for diagnosis during the process.
PBSS may be used in multiple bones and is sometimes paired with other procedures, such as total hip replacement or radiofrequency ablation. While pain relief is not guaranteed, the procedure improves bone stability and may reduce fall risk and mobility loss during cancer treatment.
