[Vertebrectomy in treating fracture-dislocation of the spine with paraplegia].
From April 1980 to August 1984, 11 cases of fracture--dislocation of spine at the level of T-11 to L-2 with obvious kyphosis at the site of displacement, with paraplegia, were treated by vertebrectomy through posterior median approach. The operations were performed 2 to 28 weeks, averaging 8 weeks, after injury. 5 of the 9 patients who had complete paraplegia suffered also causalgia in both legs. The other 2 had incomplete paraplegia only. Follow-up study, 4 years and 5 months post-operation on average, revealed complete reduction of the fracture-dislocation in 10 patients and incomplete in one, getting solid bony union in all. Concerning the neurological findings of the 9 complete paraplegic patients, 5, who had suffered from causalgia got varying degree of relief, 5 regained sensation of pain in region 2 segments lower, of the 2 incomplete paraplegic patients, 1 regained sensation of pain in both legs and muscular power of degree 4 in both thighs, so that walking became possible, while the another one fell into complete paraplegia, because of compression of the cord at T-10 happened during operation and showed no signs of recovery afterward.
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D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*