Early curative effect of transpedicular screw fixation in treatment of thoracolumbar fracture combined with posterior ligamentous complex injuries / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the preliminary clinical result of thoracolumbar fracture combined with posterior ligamentous complex injuries repaired by posterior transpedicular screw fixation.Methods A retrospective review was performed on 22 patients with thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fracture combined with posterior ligamentous complex injuries treated with transpedicular screw fixation from July 2008 to March 2013.There were 16 males and 6 females with mean age of 39 years (range,23-62 years).After medically stable,posterior pedicle screw fixation was performed under intravenousinhalational anesthesia.According to the degree of fracture displacement and types of ligament injury,posterolateral bone grafting or intervertebral fusion at the level of injury was conducted.Vertebral height restoration,Cobb' s angle and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score were reviewed preoperatively,at postoperative 3 days and at the last follow-up.Results All the patients were operated on smoothly.There were no complications during operation.All the patients were followed up for 5-51 months (mean,26.5 months).Fracture reductions were satisfied with the closure of vertebral posterior element.Mean anterior vertebral height and Cobb' s angle improved by 20.6％ and 10.60°respectively after operation (P ＜0.01).Eight patients with neurological dysfunction showed some recovery after operation with the mean sensory score improved by 20.7％ (P ＜ 0.05) and mean motor function score improved by 30.9％ (P ＜ 0.0l).All bone grafts were healed,without pain,loosening or breakage in the fixation system.Conclusions Posterior pedicular screw fixation attains good short-term outcome for thoracolumbar flexion-distraction fracture combined with posterior ligamentous complex injuries.The surgery provides satisfactory reduction and instant spinal three-column stability for the unstable spine fracture.Sufficient bone graft is the guarantee to permanent stability.