QUESTION: This retrospective study presents results after conservative and operative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures as function of its localization. METHODOLOGY: In 2 years 70 patients with A1/A2 fracture were conservatively treated, 38 patients with A3/B/C injury were treated by internal fixtor. For evaluation 3 vertebral sections(Th5-10,Th11-L2,L3-5)were defined. Follow-up took place 1 year after implant removal or end of conservative treatment. RESULTS: The correction-loss was highest in thoracic, lowest in lumbar region. After conservative therapy,correction-loss was located to 3/4 in vertebra itself, after operative treatment especially in adjacent disc spaces. There was no general correlation to complaints. CONCLUSION: In consequence of these results A1/A2-fractures in the upper thoracic spine (<Th10) with kyphosis >15 degrees will be stabilized anteriorly, in other regions functional treated. A3-fractures of thoracic spine and thoracolumbar junction will be operated from anterior, in lower lumbar spine (>L3) from dorsal. B- and C-injuries should be instrumented with a combined dorsoventral procedure.
QUESTION: This retrospective study presents results after conservative and operative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures as function of its localization. METHODOLOGY: In 2 years 70 patients with A1/A2 fracture were conservatively treated, 38 patients with A3/B/C injury were treated by internal fixtor. For evaluation 3 vertebral sections(Th5-10,Th11-L2,L3-5)were defined. Follow-up took place 1 year after implant removal or end of conservative treatment. RESULTS: The correction-loss was highest in thoracic, lowest in lumbar region. After conservative therapy,correction-loss was located to 3/4 in vertebra itself, after operative treatment especially in adjacent disc spaces. There was no general correlation to complaints. CONCLUSION: In consequence of these results A1/A2-fractures in the upper thoracic spine (<Th10) with kyphosis >15 degrees will be stabilized anteriorly, in other regions functional treated. A3-fractures of thoracic spine and thoracolumbar junction will be operated from anterior, in lower lumbar spine (>L3) from dorsal. B- and C-injuries should be instrumented with a combined dorsoventral procedure.
Authors: A P Verheyden; A Hölzl; H Ekkerlein; E Gercek; S Hauck; C Josten; F Kandziora; S Katscher; C Knop; W Lehmann; R Meffert; C W Müller; A Partenheimer; C Schinkel; P Schleicher; K J Schnake; M Scholz; C Ulrich Journal: Unfallchirurg Date: 2011-01 Impact factor: 1.000
Authors: Heiko Koller; Frank Acosta; Axel Hempfing; David Rohrmüller; Mark Tauber; Stefan Lederer; Herbert Resch; Juliane Zenner; Helmut Klampfer; Robert Schwaiger; Robert Bogner; Wolfgang Hitzl Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2008-06-25 Impact factor: 3.134