ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To determine the relationship between superior disc-endplate complex injury and correction loss after surgery in a group of young adult patients with a stable thoracolumbar burst fracture. METHODS: The study group was comprised of young adult patients who had undergone short-segment posterior fixation and bone grafting under the diagnosis of a stable thoracolumbar burst fracture from March 2008 to February 2014. Follow-up was available for more than 1 year. Before surgery, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to determine injury to the anterior longitudinal ligament, posterior longitudinal ligament, and superior and inferior intervertebral discs and endplates. Correction loss was evaluated by the Cobb angle, intervertebral disc height, upper intervertebral disc angle, vertebral wedge angle, and vertebral body height. RESULTS: No significant relation was noted between correction loss and an injury to the anterior longitudinal ligament, posterior longitudinal ligament, inferior intervertebral disc/endplate, and fracture site, whereas an injury to the superior endplate alone and superior disc-endplate complex showed a significant association. Specifically, a superior intervertebral disc-endplate complex injury showed statistically significant relation to postoperative changes in Cobb angle (p = 0.026) and vertebral wedge angle (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: A superior intervertebral disc-endplate complex injury may have an influence on the prognosis after short-segment fixation in young adult patients with a stable thoracolumbar burst fracture.
Subject(s)
Humans , Young Adult , Body Height , Bone Transplantation , Diagnosis , Follow-Up Studies , Intervertebral Disc , Longitudinal Ligaments , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , PrognosisABSTRACT
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of posterior reduction and short pedicle screw fixation at fracture level (method A) for treatment of single level compress thoracolumbar fractures. Methods The clinical data of 87 patients with single level compress thoracolumbar fractures, who were surgically treated between January 2010 and January 2012 in our hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. treated by posterior. The patients were divided into two groups according to surgical methods. Group A: Patients were treated with method A; Group B: Patients were treated by conventional posterior decompression, redultion of fracture and short segment fusion and internal fixation. The operation time and intraoperative blood losswere recorded and the postoperative pain was evaluated. The adjacent vertebral Cobb angle and the anterior height of the injured vertebra on the lateral radiographswere measured before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 1 year after surgery, and the vertebral compression ratio was calculated. Results Among the 73 patientswho were finally included in the study, 38 were in group A and 35 in group B. Therewere no significant differences in patient age, compression ratio, Cobb angle before or after surgery between the two groups. The operation time in group A was signficantly longer than that in group B(121 min vs 92 min,P<0. 05); the compression ratios immediately and 1 year after surgery in group A were significantly higher than those in groupB ([immediately after surgery: 91.3% (82%-93%) vs 77. 2% (73%-86%), P<0. 05; 1 year after sugtery: 87.2% (79%-93%) vs 73. 1 %(68%-80%),P<0. 05]). The Cobb angle at 1 year after operation in group A was significantly smaller than that in group B (7. 8°[00-15°] vs 11°[20-17°],P<0. 05). There was no significant differences in blood loss or scores of low back pain between the two groups. Conclusion Posterior reduction and short pedicle screw fixation can safely and effectively reconstruct the vertebral body height and correct kyphosis in patients with single levll compress thoracolumbar fractures.
ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PURPOSE: To assess the radiographic progression of degenerative lumbar scoliosis after short segment decompression and fusion without deformity correction. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The aims of surgery in degenerative lumbar scoliosis are the relief of low back and leg pain along with a correction of the deformity. Short segment decompression and fusion can be performed to decrease the level of low back and leg pain provided the patient is not indicated for a deformity correction due to medical problems. In such circumstance, the patients and surgeon should be concerned with whether the scoliotic angle increases postoperatively. METHODS: Forty-seven patients who had undergone short segment decompression and fusion were evaluated. The average follow-up period was more than 3 years. The preoperative scoliotic angle and number of fusion segments was 13.6+/-3.9degrees and 2.3+/-0.5, respectively. The preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up scoliotic angles were compared and the time of progression of scoliotic angle was determined. RESULTS: The postoperative and last follow-up scoliotic angle was 10.4+/-2.3degrees and 12.1+/-3.6degrees, respectively. In eight patients, conversion to long segment fusion was required due to the rapid progression of the scoliotic angle that accelerated from 6 to 9 months after the primary surgery. The postoperative scoliosis aggravated rapidly when the preoperative scoliotic angle was larger and the fusion was extended to the apical vertebra. CONCLUSIONS: The scoliotic angle after short segment decompression and fusion was not deteriorated seriously in degenerative lumbar scoliosis. A larger scoliotic angle and fusion to the apical vertebra are significant risk factors for the acceleration of degenerative lumbar scoliosis.