Burst fracture of the thoracolumbar spine is, according to the description of Denis, an unstable fracture by failures of both the anterior and middle column with possible breakage of the posterior arch. Recently, interests were poured to the occurance of the dural injury and its possible relationship to the neurologic impairment in this fracture. With our observations of 10 cases of the burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine surgically treated in this hospital from Feb. 1987 to Apr. 1990, we analyzed the relationships between the dural injury and the nature of the fracture pattern-degree of compromise of the canal, type of the fracture of the posterior arch, etc. and the presence of preoperative neurological impairment. The results were as follows; l. Among the 10 cases, neurological impairments were seen in 9. And among the 7 cases who received exploration of the cord through posterior approach for identification of the status of the dura, 4 cases showed torn durae. In the 1 case who had no neurological impairment, intact dura was seen. 2. All cases showed fractures of the posterior arch, and these findings were not considered to be related to the occurance of dural injury. 3. The degree of the canal compromise showed no relationship with the dural injury. 4. In cases of burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine complicated with the tearing of the dura, it seems ideal to repair the torn dura through posterior approach first and then to remove the fractured fragment. Though these procedures are thought to restablish the mechanical and neurological stability of the spinal column better than any other 1-stage procedure, more studies seem needed to get rationale over the shortcomings of this 2-stage procedures; long operation time with the increased ansthetic risk, more extended injury on the surrounding soft tissues and further destabilization of the spinal column by destrucing the posterior column, etc.