Posterior short-segment fixation system with pedicle screw fixation at the level of fracture for thoracolumbar burst fractures

ZHENG Jun; XIN Zong-shan; CAO Ru-dao; MAO Feng; MA Wei-chu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-4237.2017.04.012

Abstract：Objective To analyze the clinical outcomes and radiographic results of posterior short-segment fixation system with pedicle screw fixation at the level of fracture for thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods A total of 68 patients with complete data from May 2008 to May 2014 were included in this study.Among them 51 were males and 17 were females with age of 18-62 years.Patients were treated by posterior short-segment fixation system with fixation at the level of fracture for thoracolumbar burst fractures.The data was assessed,including operative time,blood loss,length of hospital stay,postoperative complications,Oswestry disability index (ODI),postoperative vertebral height correction rate,corrected vertebral height loss rate,postoperative Cobb's angle correction rate,and Cobb's angle correction loss rate.Results All patients were followed up for 12-94 (47.3) months.A total of three cases (4.3％) had postoperative complications,including one case of superficial infection incision,and two cases of screw penetrating of the pedicle medial cortex.No case developed implants breakage.At the last follow-up,the average ODI was 19.8％-29.2％[(24.4±7.6)％],vertebral height correction rate was 91.3％-100％[(96.8 ± 5.9)％],vertebral height loss of correction was 4.1％-8.2％[(7.6 ± 2.4)％],Cobb's angle correction was 83.6％-97.2％[(86.2 ± 4.1)％] and Cobb's angle correction loss rate was 2.1％-6.7％[(5.8 ± 3.4)％].Conclusion Posterior short-segment fixation system with pedicle screw fixation at the level of fracture for thoracolumbar burst fractures can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes and could be effective to maintain reduction and reduce the rate of correction loss.