The effect of surgical intervention on rehabilitation time in patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar spinal cord injuries.
One hundred forty-seven patients with unstable low thoracic and lumbar fractures were examined. All patients had significant neurologic injuries. Ninety-one patients exhibited incomplete lesions whereas fifty-six had complete lesions. Age, sex, cause of injury, fracture location, fracture mechanism, and complications were recorded and analyzed. The average follow-up was 25 months (range 2-148). Incomplete neurologic lesions demonstrated a significant increase in ASIA motor points if both decompression and stabilization were performed at the same operative sitting. When decompression was performed before stabilization a decrease in improvement was noted. Patients with complete lesions demonstrated a significant reduction in rehabilitation time if stabilization was augmented with sublaminar wires rather than Drummond wires or Harrington rods alone.
Rimoldi
R L
RL
Spinal Injury Service, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, Downey, California.
Zigler
J E
JE
Capen
D A
DA
Hu
S S
SS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D013997:Time Factors