[Comparison of dorso-lateral and dorso-ventral stabilization procedures in the treatment of vertebral fractures].
OBJECTIVE
The radiological and clinical outcome of surgical treated thoracolumbal fractures were followed up after 6.7 years.


METHODS
The study encompassed 97 patients. The degrees of the bony deformation and the local kyphosis were measured on the lateral view X-ray at 4 different time points: post trauma, after the operation, before implant removal and at the follow up examination. The clinical outcome was evaluated by the Oswestry score.


RESULTS
74 fractures were treated with a fixateur intern and a dorsal fusion by apposition of autologous bone postero-laterally. 23 fractures were fused in a combined dorso-ventral manner by intervertebral fusion with tricortical autologous bone. The lateral X-rays showed a loss of correction up to 48 % in the dorsal fused group and 10 % loss of correction in the combined group. The local kyphosis increased up to 84 % in the dorsal operated group due to degeneration of the injured disk. The clinical Oswestry score showed no significant difference in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The additional ventral surgery should be evaluated carefully.
Bertram
R
R
St.-Joseph-Krankenhaus Berlin (Tempelhof). RCBertram@aol.com
Bessem
H
H
Diedrich
O
O
Wagner
U
U
Schmitt
O
O
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome