OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw for the management of neurologically intact patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and posterior ligamentous complex injuries. METHODS: In the study, 35 patients were reviewed,including 20 males and 15 females, with an average age of 34.1 years (18 to 52), and the mean follow-up for 25.8 months (24 to 36). RESULTS: The duration of surgery was (95.8±12.3) minutes and intraoperative blood loss was (83.0±40.7) mL. There were no major perioperative complications, with the exception of 2 patients who developed a superficial wound infection. LKA and VBH were significantly improved immediately after surgery (P<0.001). No significant loss of correction was observed in all the patients(P>0.05). Screw misplacement was observed in 9/140 (6.4%) and no patient showed neurological deficit as a result of screw misplacement. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw has a good clinical outcome in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures with posterior ligamentous complex injury, which could maintain the fracture reduction effectively, and minimize the iatrogenic soft tissue injury.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw for the management of neurologically intact patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and posterior ligamentous complex injuries. METHODS: In the study, 35 patients were reviewed,including 20 males and 15 females, with an average age of 34.1 years (18 to 52), and the mean follow-up for 25.8 months (24 to 36). RESULTS: The duration of surgery was (95.8±12.3) minutes and intraoperative blood loss was (83.0±40.7) mL. There were no major perioperative complications, with the exception of 2 patients who developed a superficial wound infection. LKA and VBH were significantly improved immediately after surgery (P<0.001). No significant loss of correction was observed in all the patients(P>0.05). Screw misplacement was observed in 9/140 (6.4%) and no patient showed neurological deficit as a result of screw misplacement. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screw has a good clinical outcome in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures with posterior ligamentous complex injury, which could maintain the fracture reduction effectively, and minimize the iatrogenic soft tissue injury.