Short-segmental fixation combined with vertebroplasty via bone cement-augmented screws for treatment of old osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture nonunion accompanied by spinal nerve injury / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of short-segmental fixation combined with vertebroplasty via bone cement-augmented screws in treating old osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture nonunion (OOVFN) accompanied by spinal cord injury.Methods:A retrospective case series study was made on 32 patients with OOVFN accompanied by spinal cord injury admitted to Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between October 2012 and November 2019, including 10 males and 22 females. The age ranged from 50 to 76 years [(62.4±8.0)years]. Level of injury was T 11 in patients, T 12 in 7, L 1 in 7, L 2 in 6, L 3 in 5, L 4 in 3. Frankel classification for spinal nerve injury was grade B in 7 patients, grade C in 13 and grade D in 12. All underwent short-segmental fixation combined with vertebroplasty via bone cement-augmented screws. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and volume of bone cement injected in the fracture vertebra were documented. The anterior and posterior vertebral height, Cobb angle for local kyphosis and spinal canal volume at the fracture level were measured to evaluate the reduction, and the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Frankel classification were used to evaluate clinical outcomes pre-, post-operatively and at the last follow-up. The post-operative complications were recorded. Results:All patients completed the follow-up, with the follow-up duration of 12-85 months [(44.8±17.5)months]. The operation time was 90-135 minutes[(109.5±14.1)minutes] and intraoperative blood loss was 80-220 ml[(157.2±38.5)ml]. The volume of bone cement injected in the fracture vertebra was 3.5-6.5 ml[(5.0±1.1)ml]. The anterior vertebral height was restored from (9.8±2.2)mm preoperatively to (19.8±2.7)mm at one week postoperatively and to (19.7±2.5)mm at the last follow-up ( P<0.01). The Cobb angle was corrected from (21.8±4.7)° preoperatively to (5.4±2.7)° at one week postoperatively and to (5.5±2.7)°at the last follow-up ( P<0.01). The cross-sectional area of spinal canal was enlarged from (595.8±102.3)mm 2 preoperatively to (1, 093.6±144.9)mm 2 at one week postoperatively and to (1, 103.9±147.9)mm 2 at the last follow-up ( P<0.01). The posterior vertebral height was maintained during the perioperative period ( P>0.05). The VAS and NDI decreased from (7.7±1.3)points and 79.1±14.7 preoperatively to (2.5±0.8)points, 31.8±9.8 at one week postoperatively and to (2.3±0.6)points and 31.8±9.8 at the final follow-up ( P<0.01). The spinal nerve injury showed improvement at the final follow-up, with Frankel grade B in 1 patients, grade C in 6, grade D in 15 and grade E in 10 ( P<0.01). Two patients with bone cement leakage into spinal canal were observed intraoperatively, which was cleared during decompression. Five patients with local bone cement leakage and no leakage into spinal canal were recorded during the follow-up. There was no neurological symptom deterioration, wound infection or internal fixation loosening or failure during the follow-up. Conclusion:For patients with OOVFN accompanied by spinal cord injury, short-segmental fixation combined with vertebroplasty via bone cement-augmented screws can restore and maintain vertebral alignment, relieve pain and promote neurological function recovery.