title: Posterolateral decompression and stabilization of thoracolumbar injuries using Diapason instrumentation.
abstract: The authors describe a series of 28 patients with thoracolumbar spine injury who were decompressed via a posterolateral approach and stabilized with a new material for osteosynthesis called Diapason. Similarly to other osteosynthesis systems, it combines the advantages of pedicular fixation and rod stabilization. All patients were studied pre- and postoperative by plain X-ray films, standard and 3-D CT scan. The sagittal index (S.I.) was calculated in all patients to quantify segmental sagittal deformity. Patient follow-up ranged from 1 to 3 years. Twenty-two patients who presented with neurological deficit improved (78.5%). Twenty-six patients (92.8%) developed osseous union and 5 patients with spinal deformity (S.I. > 15 degrees) presented a postoperative S.I. of less than 5 degrees at long-term check-up; S.I. underwent a current of 2 degrees in one patient only but it remained stable at subsequent controls. Instrument failure occurred in 4 cases (screw breakage in 1 case, rod displacement in 3) but only one required reoperation because the others were asymptomatic and presented solid fusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurotraumatology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciappetta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delfini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costanzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome