title: Complete fracture-dislocation of the thoracic spine with spontaneous neurologic decompression: a case report.
abstract: Fracture-dislocations of the thoracic spine without spinal cord injury are very rare. We report a case of a complete T6-7 fracture-dislocation without neurologic deficit in a 61-year-old male Taiwanese. Complicating neurological deterioration on the fifth post-injury day during a nonoperative treatment with a Gardner-Wells skull tong and pelvic belt traction on a Stryker frame was noted. Emergent open reduction and posterior instrumentation with dual Harrington rods of T3 to T9 was performed. At 2-year follow-up examination, a good reduction was maintained and the patient had resumed full activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*