title: CT scan prediction of neurological deficit in thoracolumbar burst fractures.
abstract: In 139 patients with burst fractures of the thoracic, thoracolumbar or lumbar spine, the least sagittal diameter of the spinal canal at the level of injury was measured by computerised tomography. By multiple logistic regression we investigated the joint correlation of the level of the burst fracture and the percentage of spinal canal stenosis with the probability of an associated neurological deficit. There was a very significant correlation between neurological deficit and the percentage of spinal canal stenosis; the higher the level of injury the greater was the probability. The severity of neurological deficit could not be predicted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Fontijne
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braakman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stijnen
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Tanghe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steenbeek
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Linge
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed