Fixing the vertical stress pedicle screws into the injured vertebra for thoracolumbar fractures / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the technique outcome of fixing the ventral stress pedicle screws into the injured vertebrae, as a method to enhance the posterior internal fixation. Methods From March 2002 to March 2005, 33 single thoracolumbar fractures were studied retrospectively. Among which, 16 cases were treated with the above method(group A), and the other 17 were treated with traditional two-level fixation(group B). Group A involved 11 males and 5 females, aged 48 years averagely(range, 32-74 years); and group B included 12 males and 5 females, aged from 21 to 61 years(mean, 40 years). All the patients underwent the operation within up to 3 weeks after fracture. For the injured vertebral bodies, their pedicles were intact on either unilateral or bilateral side, and their lower half and endplate were free from split. In group A, the pedicle screws in the injured vertebrae were used to achieve the ventral press vertical to the distraction for the stress neutralization, and also with the routine distraction and lordosis restoration, simultaneously. The mean follow-up period was 11 months with a range from 6 to 24 months. Results After operation, the optimal Cobb angle and anterior column restoration were achieved through the ventral reduction from the injured vertebral body, which was the contribution from the vertical stress pedicle screw. The degree in anterior movement of injured vertebrae pre- and postoperatively was much more in group A than group B, and the difference was of statistical significance(P