Comparison between vertebra fracture fixation plus calcium sulfate cement vertebroplasty and simple fracture fixation for treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the clinical outcome between vertebra fracture fixation plus injectable calcium sulfate vertebroplasty and simple vertebra fracture fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture.Methods A total of 61 patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture treated from January 2005 to December 2008 were involved and divided into two groups,ie,Group A ( treated with three-level fixation at fractured vertebra and injectable calcium sulfate vertebroplasty) and Group B ( treated with three-level fixation at fractured vertebra alone).Group A had 22 males and 10 females,at mean age of 36.8 years (21-65 years).The mean follow-up period was 15.6 months (13-27 months).Group B had 18 males and 11 females,at mean age of 38.3 years (19-70 years).The mean follow-up period was 14.7 months (12-28 months).The ratio of anterior vertebral height,Cobb angle,VAS score were compared between the two groups.Results There were no statistical differences in the aspects of age,sex,fracture segments and preoperative neurological status distribution in the two groups( P ＞0.05 ).All patients with partial neurologic deficits initially improved for 1-2 grade at the final follow-up.Blood loss and operation time in Group A were less than that in Group B (P ＜0.05 ).The ratio of anterior vertebral height and the Cobb angle showed no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05 ),but the ratio of anterior vertebral height and the Cobb angle in Group A was less than those in Group B at the latest follow-up (P ＜0.05 ).The VAS score showed no statistical significance between the two groups at the latest followup (P ＞ 0.05 ).There was one patient with screw breakage in Group B,while there was no implant failure in Group A.Conclusion The vertebra fracture fixation plus calcium sulfate cement vertebroplasty is a safe and effective method for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture as it can restore the vertebral mechanical strength,achieve and maintain kyphosis correction,decrease the instrument failure rate and loss of vertebral height.