Pedicle screw paraspinal muscle approach versus posterior median approach fixation for thoracolumbar fractures:comparison of the stability

Zhang Zhao-chuan; Ma Chao; Wu De-hui; Wu Ji-bin; Dai Wei-xiang; Wang Zhao-hong; Han Meng; Feng Jie; Liu Guang-pu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.40.010

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Spinal posterior surgery is the most common treatment method for thoracolumbar fracture. During exposure of conventional posterior surgery, a wide-range stripping and pul ing of paraspinal muscles easily induced failure syndrome of lumbar surgery. <br> OBJECTIVE:To compare the reset conditions and stability of thoracolumbar fractures after treatment with pedicle screw paraspinal muscle approach and conventional posterior median approach fixation. <br> METHODA total of 62 patients with thoracolumbar fractures without nerve injury were retrospectively analyzed. 22 patients were treated with paraspinal muscle approach and general spine system. 21 patients were treated with conventional median approach and general spine system. 19 patients were treated with conventional median approach and AF internal fixation system. The therapeutic effects of the three kinds of fixation methods were compared by comparing clinical indexes in patients of the three groups, including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, dead space volume, scores of the Visual Analogue Scale of back pain, wound complications, height of injured vertebrae and the Cobb angle. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and dead space volume were better in the paraspinal muscle approach and general spine system group than in the conventional median approach and general spine system group and conventional median approach and AF internal fixation system group (P<0.05). No significant difference in height of injured vertebrae and the Cobb angle was detectable among the three groups at 3 days after fixation (P>0.05). No significant difference in scores of the Visual Analogue Scale of back pain was visible among the three groups at 1 week after fixation (P>0.05). The scores of the Visual Analogue Scale of back pain were apparently lower in the paraspinal muscle approach and general spine system group than in the conventional median approach and general spine system group and conventional median approach and AF internal fixation system group at 3 and 6 months after fixation. No incision infection was observed in patients of the three groups. These results suggested that compared with conventional posterior median approach, paraspinal muscle approach has some advantages, such as smal trauma, less bleeding, postoperative rapid recovery, and high degree of satisfaction. The effects of general spine system and AF internal fixation system in the repair of thoracolumbar fractures on internal fixation are similar, but general spine system has some advantages such as simple to be operated, save time, less bleeding, stable fixation and good reduction. General spine system combined with paraspinal muscle approach is a good method to repair thoracolumbar spine fracture.