The heat transfer modelling for bone metastatic lesion minimization using two different cement types

Abstract

Bone tumors grow when cells divide without any control, forming a tissue mass. Bone tumors could be benign or malignant, and primary or metastatic due to systemic cancer cells dissemination. They destroy bone and lead to pathological fractures. The main objective of this work is to study the thermal effect induced by the bone cement polymerization, in the bone metastatic tumor minimization. To assess the clinical effect, it is important to test this methodology before its application and obtain sustained results. In this work, a numerical model was developed to predict the temperature distribution produced by cement polymerization. Thus, distinct tests were produced for different two cements types and amounts introduced in a cortical and spongy bone metastatic lesion, with or without an intramedullary titanium nail. The bone cement was introduced to fill in a metastatic lytic lesion area, which the main objective is playing a promising role for bone tumor necrosis due to thermal effects and biomechanical stabilization for function and pain relief.