Percutaneous versus open pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar fractures with no neurological deficit

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Objective To compare minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and open pedicle screw fixation for neurologically intact thoracolumbar fractures. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in the 180 patients who had been treated for thoracolumbar fractures without neurological deficits from January 2016 to December 2016. Of them, 93 were treated by minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and 87 by open pedicle screw fixation. The 2 groups were compared in terms of blood loss, radiological parameters, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Results Compared with the open surgery group, the minimally invasive surgery group had significantly shorter operating time (95.8±33.4 min versus 106.3±30.9 min), significantly less intraoperative blood loss (65.8±40.3 mL versus 183.1±77.5 mL), significantly less total blood loss in theory 24 hours after surgery (374.7±160.6 mL versus 614.8±242.6 mL) and significantly shorter hospital stay (5.2±2.0 d versus 6.7±2.7 d), but significantly longer C-arm exposure time (23.6±4.2 min versus 12.4±4.1 min) and significantly more hidden blood loss 24 hours after surgery (308.9±159.0 mL versus 243.5±195.5 mL) (P 0.05). At 3 days postoperation, significant better pain relief was observed in the minimally invasive surgery group than in the open surgery group (P<0.01), but at the last follow-up no obvious pain was reported in either group. At the last follow-up, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in ODI (6.2±1.1 versus 6.0±1.4) (P=0.320). Conclusions In the treatment of neurologically intact thoracolumbar fractures, minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw fixation may lead to shorter operating time, less blood loss and shorter hospital stay but no poorer radiological outcomes or long-term patient-reported outcomes than the open pedicle screw fixation.However, it should be noted that the former may lead to a higher volume of hidden blood loss. Key words: Thoracic vertebrae; Lumbar vertebrae; Fracture Fixation, Internal; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Hidden blood loss