Posterior spinal decompression and short segment pedicle fixation for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective To observe posterior lumbar decompression and short segment pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures. Methods From 2005,Forty-seven patients with thoracolumbar fracture were treated by posterior lumbar decompression, short segment pedicle screw fixation and laminar bone grafting. Postoperative clinical and radiological follow-up were done.Results The patients were followed up for an average time of 18.5 months. Both front and back edge of the fractured vertebral height restored obviously, which were improved from preoperative(35±8)% and(68±15)% to postoperative (94±6)% and(98±6)%, respectively. And the Cobb angle was corrected from 26°±6° to 4.6°±1.5°.Two cases of complete nerve injury had no significant improvement in neurological symptoms, the ASAI classification of the remaining patients with incomplete injury was improved more than Ⅰlevel. Conclusions Posterior short-segment pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture exerted the double function of reduction and fixation, with satisfactory clinical efficacy and high healing rate. Key words: Short segment ; Pedicle ; Thoracolumbar ; Burst fracture ; Spinal cord injury ;