Surgical treatment of thoracic and lumbar fractures using posterior approach

ABSTRACT

Twelve cases of traumatic thoracic and lumbar fractures were operated upon in the period from June 2003 to January 2007 in Kasr Al-Aini Hospital Cairo University. They were ten males and two females, with age range from 22 to 45 years old. Traffic accidents followed by falling from height were the direct cause of trauma in all cases. Neurological examination varied from back pain to complete paraplegia. Radiological investigations in the form X-ray with dynamic views, computed tomography bone window axial cuts and sagittal reconstruction images, in addition to magnetic resonance imaging with dynamic views were performed to all cases. All cases were managed by a posterior surgical approach. No case had neurological deterioration postoperative, implant failure occurred in 3 cases [25%], pseudoarthrosis in one case, fracture screws in another case and slipped sublaminar hooks in a third one