Immature Skeleton Thoracolumbar Fractures

Abstract

Introduction Lesions in children have increased in the general population; yet, thoracolumbar fractures in childhood are uncommon. Very few studies in immature skeleton patient's thoracolumbar fractures have been made. Patients and Methods A nonexperimental, transversal, and retrospective research was performed, having patients aged between 0 and 18 years' old, who had presented thoracolumbar fracture and needed medical–chirurgical treatment, throughout a period of time between 2006 and 2013 in two traumatology hospitals, being both third level attention hospitals. Evidence level III. Results A total of 100 patients who met the inclusion criteria were used for this study. The most affected age group was the young–adolescent group, prevailing male patients in a 2:1 relation. The most affected zone was the thoracolumbar union, and 89 were treated with surgery, 41 patients presented associated lessons. Conclusion The main cause was falls, it was found a poorly described cause (PPAF), which affected the 7% of the series. There is no predominant lesion type as there is in adults. Ligament injuries do heal up in children aged 11 years or less. A 36% of the cases presented multiple fractures. Overall, 22.47% of operated patients were treated with fixation without arthrodesis and a single posterior boarding as surgical management in 92%. Neurological recovery percentage was 8%.