Transpedicular screw fixation for thoracolumbar fractures / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and outcome of transpedicular screw fixation in fracture reduction and maintenance of reduction for thoracolumbar fractures.Methods The clinical data of 43 patients with thoracolumbar fractures admitted to Orthopedic Trauma Hospital of Qingdao from January 2003 to December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.The inclusion criteria were as follow;sin-gle vertebral fracture involving T_(12)-L_2, integrated pedicle and no inferior endplate fracture.All patients received operation within 10 days after injury.Three-level fixation at fractured vertebra plus pedicle screw fixation was performed in 23 patients (Group A) including 15 males and 8 females, at mean age of 45 years (19-77 years).Traditional two-level fixation was done on the other 20 patients (Group B) inclu-ding 11 males and 9 females, at mean age of 42 years (22-67 years).In Group A, the transpedicular screws fixing the fractured vertebra and cephal vertebra were distracted after locking the transpedicular screw of the fracture vertebra and caudal vertebra.Results The height of the anterior edge of the cau-dal disc in Group B was 0.035 ±0.042, greater than 0.061 ±.036 in Group A, with statistical differ-ence (P < 0.05).There was no statistical difference in the changes of Cobb angle after the operation be-tween (915.8 ±7.8)°in Group A and (13.1±5.2)°in Group B.34 patients were followed up for an average period of 15 months (11-24 months) , which showed smaller Cobb angle in Group A (5.4°compared with Group B (8.9°)(P <0.05).There was one patient with screw breakage in Group A and two in Group B.Conclusion Transpedicular screws can enhance the stability of the posterior short-segment instrumentation, avoid over-distraction of the caudal discs, improve stress distribution and lessen loss of correction for some thoracolumbar fractures.