The preliminary clinical outcomes of porous nano-hydroxyapatite polyamide 66 cage in the treatment of thracolumbar burst fracture.

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the early clinical outcomes of porous nano-hydroxyapatite polyamide 66 cage in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture. Methods From Jan 2008 to Sep 2008, 54 patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture were treated by anterior thoracolumbar body resection com-bined with nano-hydroxyapatite polyamide 66 cage fusion. All patients were evaluated preoperatively, post-operatively and 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively. The neurological function were measured by Frankel grade. All of the patients underwent X ray and three-dimensional CT scan. The Cobb angle were used to measured the kyphosis of the fusion segments. The intervertebral fusion were graded by criterion described by Branti-gan. Results The mean follow-up period was 9.4 month. No patients had deteriorated neurologically and all improved at least one neurologic grade, except 2 patients with Franke rank A and 8 patients with Franke rank D. The mean preoperative kyphosis has improved from 14.4°to 3.7° immediately after surgery and 3.9° at the final follow-up. The mean preoperative distance between adjacent vertebral bodies was (96.9±17.2)mm preoperatively, (109.5±17.1) mm immediately after surgery and (108.6±16.9) mm at the final follow-up. No cage displacement, internal fixation breakage or neurologie impairment were found. At the final follow-up, 19 patients had achieved grade E fusion, 10 achieved grade D, and 25 achieved grade C. Conclusion The present study demonstrates Anterior decompression combined with porous nano-hydroxyapatite polyamide 66 cage fusion was a effective method to treat thoracolumbar burst fracture. The kyphosis the intervertebral dis-tahoe was corrected effectively with a low rate of instrumentation failure and loss of correction and interver-tebral distance. Key words: Thoracic vertebrae; Lumbar vertebrae; Spinal fractures; Spinal fusion; Nanostructures