Posterior instrumentation for thoracolumbar trauma.

The majority of thoracolumbar spine fractures and fracture dislocations may be considered acute sagittal plane deformities. Unstable thoracolumbar spine injuries require stabilization to (1) allow mobilization of the patient to prevent pulmonary and venous complications; (2) to relieve pain; (3) to realign the spine and spinal canal, and (4) to decompress directly or indirectly the neural elements. Posterior spinal instrumentation is a safe, available, familiar, and effective method to achieve these goals. Posterior spinal instrumentation techniques used rod hook systems or screw rod and screw plate systems. Most of these unstable injuries can be managed using these well established techniques without the need for additional combined or staged anterior spinal surgery.