Interstitial laser photocoagulation for the treatment of osteoid osteoma: Retrospective study on 35 cases

PurposeThe aim of our retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of interstitial laser photocoagulation for the treatment of osteoid osteomas and to identify the factors leading to failure of the procedure.Material and methodsThirty-five patients received interstitial laser photocoagulation treatment. A minimum of 3 months follow-up was required. The laser fibre was positioned within the nidus under CT guidance, and energy between 500 and 1800 J was delivered at a power of 2 Watts/s. Follow-up was by outpatient appointment and through a questionnaire sent to the patients.ResultsThirty patients replied to the questionnaire. Mean follow-up was 40 months. The technical success rate was 100%. The primary success rate (no pain at 1 month) was 94.3%. The rate of recurrence was 6%. The rate of complications was 11.4% (a skin burn, patellar enthesopathy, a broken item of material, sacro-iliac fibrous alterations). Factors likely to favour failure of the procedure are the size of the nidus (P = 0.04) and poor positioning of the laser fibre (P = 0.03).ConclusionInterstitial laser photocoagulation is an effective and safe treatment for osteoid osteomas.