Surgical methods in the complex treatment of fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine

Abstract

Between 1990 and 2001, 1540 patients with various fractures and fracture-dislocations of thoracolumbar vertebrae (type А, В, C) were operated on at the Regional Center for Spine Pathology of Novosibirsk RITO. Basing on that experience the indications and pathogenetic surgical techniques were defined for every clinical form of spine injury. Depending on the type of spine fracture and its stability the individual choice of technique for dorsal fixation, ventral spinal fusion or their combination provided the complete restoration of spine anatomy and stiff stabilization of the injured vertebral segments. Such differentiation in the treatment of various types of spine injuries permits to reduce the terms and stages of treatment thus predetermining favorable short-term and long-term outcomes.