Radiofrequency ablation epiphysiodesis
The present invention is directed to a method of treating bone length discrepancies and angular deformities in a patient in need thereof, where the method involves radiofrequency ablation epiphysiodesis of a physeal plate. Specifically, the method treats long bone discrepancies with a minimally invasive procedure. The present invention is also directed to a method of inhibiting bone growth, where the method involves exposing a physeal growth plate to radiofrequency ablation epiphysiodesis.
1. A method of treating bone length discrepancy in a patient in need of such treatment, which comprises
(a) identifying a target bone growth plate site;
(b) making at least one percutaneous incision at the target site;
(c) inserting a guide wire into the incision site transversely into physeal cartilage at the target site to create a channel;
(d) inserting a radiofrequency electrode probe into the channel, wherein the probe is connected to a radiofrequency generator;
(e) heating the probe to ablate the target site for a set duration of time;
(f) removing the probe; and
(g) surgically closing the incision; wherein a physeal growth plate on a bone in need of such treatment is destroyed using radiofrequency ablation epiphysiodesis.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone is a long bone.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the long bone is selected from the group consisting of a femur, tibia, humerus, radius, and ulna.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physeal growth plate is a tibial physis.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is human.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is a pediatric patient.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is an animal.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incision is between about 0.2 cm and about 3 cm in length.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incision is between about 0.3 cm and 1.0 cm in length.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe is between about 0.02 mm and about 10 mm in diameter.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe is between about 0.4 mm and about 1 mm in diameter.
12. The method of claim 1 , which comprises heating the probe to between about 50° and about 100° C.
13. The method of claim 1 , which comprises heating the probe to between about 70° and about 90° C.
14. The method of claim 1 , which comprises exposing said bone plate to said radiofrequency for between about 1 second and about 10 minutes.
15. The method of claim 1 , which comprises exposing said bone plate to said radiofrequency for between about 1 minute and about 5 minutes.
16. The method of claim 1 , which comprises closing the incision with sutures.