TREATMENT OF THORACOLUMBAR BURST FRACTURES FIXED WITH INTERMEDIATE PINS BY THE POSTERIOR APPROACH

Abstract

Objective:Radiographic evaluation of patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures treated with unconvencional transpedicular fixation, which includes additional fixation of the fractured vertebra associated with transverse connector - Crosslink clamp.Methods:Retrospective study evaluating a total of 68 patients operated at the Hospital do Trabalhador de Curitiba, Orthopedics Service, of which 15 were eligible for the study. All patients were treated with posterior pedicle fixation and intermediate screw. The assessment by the Cobb angle method was performed on preoperative, immediate postoperative and one year after surgery radiographs.Results:It was observed an average reduction of kyphosis of 8.3o (77%), with a loss of 1.34o in late postoperative compared to the immediate postoperative period.Conclusion:The method of fixation of burst-type fractures of the thoracolumbar spine by the posterior approach with intermediate screw was effective in maintaining the reduction achieved in the immediate postoperative period and after one year of evolution.