Comparison of pedicle screw fixation via paraspinal approach and traditional open approach for treatment of thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation

Abstract

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of posterior pedicle screw fixation through Wiltse paraspinal approach and posterior traditional open approach in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation. Methods A retrospective case control study was performed based on the clinical data of 40 patients with thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation admitted between January 2013 and January 2016. All the surgeries were performed through posterior midline incision, and they were divided into two groups according to different approaches. Patients in Group A received pedicle screw fixation through Wiltse paraspinal approach while Group B received fixed pedicle screw through open surgery. Group A was composed of 12 males and 8 females, aged 21-60 years [(41.5±9.6)years]. Group B was composed of 13 males and 7 females, aged 18-58 years [(39.1±13.1)years]. The same surgical procedures were adopted in spinal decompression, reduction, and the spinal vertebral interbody bone graft and fusion surgery in the two groups. Operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, visual analogue scale (VAS), spinal canal patency at the last follow-up, percentage of postoperative injury of vertebral height recovery, and Cobb angle were compared. CT and MRI were used to evaluate postoperative paravertebral muscle atrophy, and American spinal injury association (ASIA) impairment scale was used to evaluate neurological function assessment. Results All patients were followed up for 9-33 months, with (19.3± 5.6)months for Group A and (22.5±4.9)months for Group B (P>0.05). The operation duration was (240.5±38.3)min in Group A and (258.5±43.7)min in Group B (P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss was (525.0±168.2)ml in Group A, less than (770.0±269.2)ml in Group B (P 0.05). In terms of MRI evaluation score of postoperative paravertebral muscle atrophy, Group A reported better results than Group B [(2.1±0.6)points vs. (1.2±0.6)points] (P 0.05). Within the same group, significant difference was observed between the preoperative data and that at the last follow-up in terms of postoperative VAS score, spinal canal patency, percentage of injury of vertebral height, Cobb angle, and ASIA impairment scale (P<0.05). Conclusion For thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation, compared with traditional open approach, posterior pedicle screw fixation through Wiltse paraspinal approach can effectively restore the vertebral body height and spinal canal patency and can reduce the intraoperative bleeding, postoperative drainage, postoperative back pain, and paravertebral lesion. Key words: Spinal injuries; Thoracic vertebrae; Lumbar vertebrae; Fracture fixation