Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has a success rate of 70% to 90% in the treatment of osteoid osteoma (OO). Failures are due to malpositioning of probes or incomplete ablation, possibly related to conventional probes’ small heating diameter (range, .5–.8 cm). Cooled-tip probes have a larger heating distance, ablating up to 3 cm, affecting a larger volume, and improving success rate in adults. Concerns regarding damage to surrounding structures and unknown effects on bony growth potential have delayed the widespread use of cooled tips in children. Our goal was to examine whether this technique, when added to conventional RFA, improves the clinical results and whether it carries any additional risks to children.

A total of 22 patients with OO, 15 boys and 7 girls aged 3.5 to 18 years, were treated with the Cool-tip Tyco probe (Valleylab, Boulder, CO). Fifteen lesions were located in the femur, two in the tibia, and the remainder in the humerus, talus, calcaneus, second metatarsus, and sacrum. The OO was intra-articular in five patients: three in the femur, and one each in the calcaneus and talus. Average postoperative follow-up was 38.5 (range, 16–66) months.

The symptoms of all but one patient resolved immediately after a single RFA treatment. One patient experienced partial relief and underwent a second successful ablation. One patient experienced recurrence of disease after 18 months, and one superficial infection occurred. No fractures, neurovascular complications, or growth disturbances were found.

The cooled-tip probe is highly effective and safe for the treatment of pediatric osteoid osteoma, with no adverse events in this age group.