Surgical Outcomes of Posterior Short Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: A Study of Patients Treated without Vertebroplasty

Abstract

There is no widespread agreement regarding the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures. While performing posterior short segment fixation of thoracolumbar burst fractures, we evaluated therapeutic outcomes in patients treated with screw insertion into fractured vertebral bodies without vertebroplasty. We also investigated the limitations associated with the treatment of burst fractures when vertebroplasty is not performed. Twenty-one of 51 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures who were treated surgically in Ohta Nishinouchi Hospital were evaluated in the present study. These patients underwent posterior short segment xation with screw insertion into the fractured vertebral bodies only pedicle screws were inserted one level above and one level below the fractured vertebral bodies without vertebroplasty. Vertebral angles were measured before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the nal follow-up examination. Changes in vertebral angles were compared and analyzed. The mean vertebral angles before and after surgery and at the nal follow-up examination were 15.4 , 6.6 , and 9.1 , respectively. The mean postoperative correction loss was 2.5. The therapeutic outcomes of posterior short segment xation with screw insertion into fractured vertebral bodies without vertebroplasty were generally favorable.