Value of multidetector spiral CT in diagnosis of acute thoracolumbar spinal fracture and fracture-dislocation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnostic value of multidetector spiral CT (MSCT) in acute thoracolumbar spinal fracture and fracture-dislocation.


METHODS
CT imaging files of 152 consecutive traumatic patients with thoracolumbar fractures were retrospectively reviewed. MSCT scannings were performed with a collimation of 3-5 mm and a pitch of 5.5. The postprocessing included sagittal and coronal multiplannar reconstruction, and 3-D reconstruction.


RESULTS
There were 88 cases of compression fracture, 54 cases of burst fracture and 10 cases of fracture-dislocation. Transverse images of MSCT could visualize all fractures directly and determine whether spinal canal was intact. Postprocessing image was helpful in depicting the displacement of fragment and orientation of dislocation.


CONCLUSIONS
MSCT plays an important role in diagnosis and management of acute thoracolumbar spinal fracture and fracture-dislocation.
Gong
Jing-Shan
JS
Department of Radiology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Jinan University), Shenzhen 518020, Guangdong Province, China. jshgong@sina.com
Xu
Jian-Min
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome