Operative procedures for thoraco-lumbar burst fractures coupled with neurological dysfunction / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the indications of anterior and posterior approach operations for unstable thoraco-lumbar fractures coupled with neurologic deficits and prevention of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Methods We investigated 107 consecutive eases of thoraco-lumbar fractures coupled with spinal cord injury who had been operated on from January 2000 to December 2006.Their average age was 37.8(range.17 to 78) years old. They were 71 males and 36 females. Anterior approach was selected for 46 cases and posterior approach for 61 cases according to their McCormack grades. By the Frankle system for neurologie deficits, 7 cases were graded as A,16 as B,39 as C and 45 as D. Fracture height vecoveries before and after surgery were analyzed statistically. Kyphotic deformity was assessed on lateraJ radiographs using the Cobb method. Results The mean follow-up of 97 cases was 2.8(range,0.5 to 6) years. In both groups. All the cases gained at least 1 grade improvement except those with Frankle grade A. The mean kyphotic angles before operation, after operation and at the latest follow-up were 23.7°,10.6°and13.1°respectively, with significant differences(P＜0.01),in the anterior approach group, while 16.3°,8.4°and 11.7°respectively, with significant differences(P＜0.01),in the posterior approach group. Some complications, such as deficit of cutaneous nerve of thigh, appeared in the 2 groups. Conclusions In treatment of unstable thoraco-lumbar fractures coupled with neurologic deficits, the anterior approach may be better than the posterior approach. The posterior approach can be applied for the cases with less than 7 points in McCormack index. Correct selection of operative approach, careful operation and good rehabilitation after operation are necessary for the prevention of complications.