Treatment of mid-upper thoracic spine fracture with posterior decompression and pedicle crew fixation and reduction / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo analyze and summarize the feasibility and characteristics of the posterior spinal canal reduction and fixation in treating mid-upper thoracic spine facture.MethodsA retrospective study was made on 17 patients with mid-upper thoracic spine facture to record the complication, compare the functions of the patients with complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries before and after surgery and examine the iatrogenic injury in patients without spinal cord injuries.ResultsNo complication happened after surgery.Incomplete injury was found in six patients, whose ASIA scales were found to be increased for 1-3 levels during the follow-up.While the complete injury was found in eight patients,whose ASIA scale remained unchanged during the follow-up.The sensory scores of both the incomplete injury group and complete injury group were processed with variance analysis and the results showed a significant difference between pre-operation and post-operation (F = 476.47, P = 0.000).The mean value between complete injury group and incomplete group was with high statistical difference (F = 31.46, P =0.000).The variance analysis of the motor scores showed a significant difference between before and after operation (F=46.75, P =0.000) and the mean value between complete and incomplete injury groups was with statistical difference (F = 158.59, P = 0.000).There were three patients with normal spinal cord function, with no decrease of ASIA scale or no change of the sensory and motor scores.ConclusionsFor patients with mid-upper thoracic spine fracture, posterior spinal surgery is conducive to the recovery of spinal function, for it can safely and effectively avoid worsening the thoracic and other combined injuries and release spinal pressure including the pressure in front part of the spinal cannal.