title: The results of the surgical and conservative treatment of non-neurologic comminuted thoracolumbar fractures.
abstract: A retrospective radiologic study of 40 non-neurologic thoracolumbar fractures allowed for the evaluation of the long-term results of surgical and conservative treatment in terms of correction of the post-traumatic deformity. The Magerl classification and the McCormack scale were used to select compressive type fractures (type A), and fractures characterized by comminution of the vertebral body without involvement of the posterior elements. Instability related to comminution and to considerable diastasis of the fragments is at the basis of failure of conservative (plaster brace) and surgical (short posterior fixation and posterolateral fusion) treatments. Severe type A fractures treated conservatively have, in fact, at follow-up shown significant residual deformity, while failure of the instrumentation or loss of correction in 40% of cases treated surgically has been revealed.
authors.affiliation: II Cattedra Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica, Università di Roma La Sapienza.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domenicucci
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Passacantilli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nocente
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciappetta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D013997:Time Factors