Abstract
Study Design
The authors designed the retrospective study with the Load-Sharing Classification in 47 cases of the bursting thoraciclumbar fractures, which were operated using the pedicle screws.
Objective
To judge the effectiveness of posterior short segment instrumented fusion in thoraciclumbar fractures according to the Load-Sharing classification.
Material and Method
From 1995 through 1998, 47 patients who had been operated with short segment transpedicular instrumentation including fractured vertebra were selected and they were divided two groups, one below 6 point of Load-Sharing score, the other above 7 point. In follow up of average 39 months, the guide of reduction loss, which include the change of anterior vertebral body height and sagittal index were analysed statistically with the Student T- test at the postoperative time and the last followup time.
Results
In group below 6 point, the average of anterior vertebral body height was 56.2% before the operation and reduced 77.6% after the operation and measured 76.4% at final followup. The reduction loss was 1.2%. The sagittal index of preoperative 19.4。 became 10.6。 after the operation and measured 11.8° at the last followup. The loss of correction angle was 1.2。. In the other group above 7 point, anterior vertebral body height was average 51.7% before the operation and reduced 75% after the operation and measured 71.2% in last follow up, so reduction loss was 3.8%. Sagittal index was average 21.6。before the operation and corrected 12.6 after the operation and measured 14.6。 in last follow up. All of 19 patients with neurologic deficits improved by over the one Frankel grade except grade A.
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