title: Vertebral body reconstruction with injectable hydroxyapatite cement for the management of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures: a preliminary report.
abstract: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of an injectable hydroxyapatite cement in combination with long posterior transpedicular instrumentation, without fusion, for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures. Ten patients with this type of fracture were treated in the period 1999-2000 with bisegmental posterior transpedicular stabilisation above and below the fracture site, indirect reduction of the fracture, and transpedicular injection of hydroxyapatite cement into the fractured vertebral body. Postoperatively the mean Cobb kyphotic deformity angle (CKDA) and vertebral compression index (VCI) were statistically improved (p < 0.001). Both variables deteriorated slightly between surgery and follow-up after +/- 39 months; this was statistically not significant for the CKDA (p > 0.05), but significant for the VCI (p < 0.001). These data suggest that hydroxyapatite cement can be a reliable way to reinforce the fractured vertebral body in the thoracolumbar region.
authors.affiliation: 1st Orthopaedic Department, Papanikolaou Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Avraam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ploumis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Terzidis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pournaras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001843:Bone Cements; D001863:Bone Screws; D017886:Durapatite; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001843:Bone Cements; D017886:Durapatite