RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of acute burst thoracolumbar fracture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-eight patients (male 38 and female 20, ranging in age from 38 to 70 years, with an average of 56.8 years) with acute burst thoracolumbar fracture were treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty. The injuried vertebrae were T11 in 3 cases, T12 18 cases, L1 29 cases, L2 5 cases and L3 3 cases. All suited cases were classified into 3 types according to injuried vertebral shapes,type I (safe type 26 cases), type II (risk type 21 cases), and type III (marginal type 11 cases).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients were followed up ranging from 1 to 2.5 years (mean 1.6 years). Fifty-three patients could walk in 1 to 3 days after operation. Among 55 patients who obtained complete recovery (CR), 39 patients could do daily works and 16 patients could do houseworks. The CR rate was 95%. Three patients who obtained partial recovery (PR), could live by themselves and felt slight lumbago after movements. The PR rate was 5%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of acute burst thoracolumbar fracture is a feasible and effective method even for particular risks.</p>