RESUMO
From January, 1996 to December, 1997, 24 patients with unstable thoracolumbar spine fracture were treated with pedicle screw fixation and posterolateral fusion. The present study is a retrospective analysis on various clinical paramaters such as age, sex distribution, causes of injury, levels of injury and outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 17 months(range, 4-26 months) after their initial operation. Reduction and stabilization was attained without complications. Sixteen patients with Frankel Grade-C,D,E returned to full-time work, but 8 patients with Frankel grade-A, B were not significantly improved. Maximum neurologic recovery can be expected with prompt and adequate decompression, restoration of normal spinal alignment and rigid internal fixation.