Clinical efficacy analysis of percutaneous “tripod” combined with radiofrequency ablation and bone cement filling in the treatment of periacetabular metastases

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical efficacy of a percutaneous “tripod” combined with radiofrequency ablation and bone cement filling surgery in treating acetabular bone metastases. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 11 patients who underwent percutaneous “tripod” combined with radiofrequency ablation and bone cement filling for acetabular bone metastases at a tertiary care hospital from February 2021 to December 2022. RESULTS: 11 cases with 13 hips underwent this procedure, including two female patients who underwent both sides, and the rest were unilateral. All cases were followed up for 3–24 months, with a mean of 12 months and a median follow-up time of 11 months. Two of the 11 patients died by the final follow-up, and nine survived. One died 7 months after surgery, and one died 8 months after surgery; the survival of the deceased patients was 7.5 months (range: 7–8 months), with a median survival time of 7.5 months. All 11 patients completed the surgery successfully, and the average unilateral operation time was 167.4 min (148–193). The amelioration of postoperative pain, concomitant with improved quality of life, was observed significantly, ultimately resulting in a prolonged and sustained effect. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of percutaneous “tripod”, radiofrequency ablation, and bone cement filling can effectively relieve pain without delaying the patient's systemic anti-tumor therapy and is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective procedure for the treatment of periacetabular metastases. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-023-04255-w.