title: Dural tears associated with lumbar burst fractures.
abstract: A retrospective review of 817 spinal fracture patients revealed a 7.7% (20 of 258) incidence of dural tears in surgically treated patients. Dural tears were most common in the lumbar burst fractures (10 of 85). Twenty-five percent of patients with lumbar spine burst fractures and a neurologic deficit had a dural tear requiring repair. Eighty-six percent of patients with lumbar burst injuries and dural tears had a neurologic deficit. An initial posterior approach with inspection of the dura and stabilization of the fracture is recommended when treating lumbar burst fractures with a neural deficit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Keenen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Antony
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy