[Evaluation of the thoracolumbar injury classification system [TLICS] in thoracolumbar fractures]

ABSTRACT

Due to refer patients with thoracolumbar fractures, and the importance of treatment results in these patients, type of treatment, prediction of treatment outcome, the shortcomings of the current scoring In these patients, reports of success of scoring Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System [TLICS] and lack of experience in Iran, Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the score of TLICS and evaluate the success of this method in patients who referred to Imam Hossein hospital during 2008-2010. Descriptive analysis study was conducted. All patients who had undergone surgery due to the thoracolumbar fractures were studied. Clinical and radiologic data, classifying the trauma according to the Frankel classification, the Magerl/AO classification, and the TLICS score for fractures were evaluated. The results were statistically analyzed by Fisher's exact test and correlation coefficient. The study was conducted on 67 eligible patients during two years. The average age of the patients was 30 +/- 11 years [range 19-60 years], and the average follow-up time was 18 months [range 6-24 months]. 63 [94%] of patients had a TLICS score? 4. The TLICS score ranged from 2 to 9 [average of 6.5]. Frankel classification status remained unchanged in 61 of cases and 6 of them had some improvement. A statistic correlation was established between the neurologic status and the TLICS score [P<0.004]. An elevated correlation coefficient were found between the AO type fracture and Frankel classification status with the TLICS score [r=0.8] and [r=0.78] respectively. It seems that the TLICS score is a good approach in determining the severity of thoracolumbar fractures and the prediction of surgical management. Our results will need to be confirmed with further clinical trial studies