title: Short segment fixation of thoracolumbar burst fractures.
abstract: Short segment instrumentation for thoracolumbar fractures or fracture dislocations continues to be controversial. Recently, a load-sharing classification score was developed to help predict failure of posterior instrumented fusion alone used for highly comminuted and kyphotic fractures. Twenty-two patients treated with short-segment posterior instrumentation for thoracolumbar fractures were retrospectively reviewed. Although posterior instrumented fusion was used for fractures with a relatively high load sharing classification score, the load-sharing classification score was not predictive of posterior instrumentation failure. Single-level cephalad instrumentation failed at a higher rate than two-level cephalad instrumentation.
authors.affiliation: The Orthopedic Center, Huntsville, USA.
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Scholl
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Theiss
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure