One-stage combined anterior and posterior approach for severe thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fracture / 中国脊柱脊髓杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the surgical outcome of one-stage combined anterior and posterior ap-proach for severe thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fracture.Method:A total of 62 cases suffered from severe thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fracture undergoing surgery from Jan 2003 to Jan 2008 were reviewed retro-spectively.Of these,there were T11 involved in 2 cases,T12 in 13 cases,L1 in 28 cases,L2 in 10 cases,L3 in 6 cases and L4 in 3 cases.There were 58 fresh fractures and 4 old fractures.Based on Dennis classifica-tion,12 were compression fracture,33 were burst fracture and 17 fracture dislocation.All cases had spine load score≥7 and TLICS score≥5.Of 19 cases with neurological deficit according to Frankel grade,there were 7 A,5 B and 7 C.Combined anterior and posterior approach was performed in all cases,anterior bony graft plus posterior pedicle instrumentation were performed either,of these,52 cases had additional anterior decompres-sion.Result:All operations were performed successfully,with the mean surgical time of 170min (range, 150-210min) ,the average blood loss was 819ml(range,400-2900ml).No iatrogenic neuroinjury,skin infection, dural matter tearing and graft displacement were noted.The preoperative Cobb's angle was 8°-40°(mean, 23.9°), while the postoperative counterpart returning to normal with 5 cases having 2°-10° kyphosis.The preoperative compression rate was 20%-95%(mean,54.5%),while the postoperative counterpart returning to normal in 47 cases,with 15 cases having 2%-30%.The preoperative canal stenosis rate was 5%-90%(mean,51.1%) while the postoperative counterpart was 0-30%(mean,4.7%),which showed significant difference with regarding to these 3 parameters (P<0.05).All cases were followed up for an average of 31 months (range,12-72 months). Bony fusion was evidenced in cases undergoing anterior bony graft.At 10-12 months, the Cobb's angle was 0°-15°(mean,0.62°) ,the vertebral compression rate was 0-30%(mean,4.6%),no significant difference were noted between them and their postoperative counterparts(P>0.05).At final foUow-up,15 of 19 cases with neu-rological deficit had neurofunction improved,while 4 remained unchanged.According to our hospital criteria,of 43 cases with no neurological deficit,there were 30 excellent,9 good,3 fair and 1 bad with the total excel-lent to good rate of 90.6%.Cage subsidence and pedicle screw breaking was noted in 1 case,who developed severe kyphosis presenting with irreducible back pain.Conclusion:One-stage combined anterior and posterior approach for severe thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fracture can ensure three column stability as well as complete decompression,which has good early outcome.