Pedicle screw fixation against burst fracture of thoracolumbar vertebrae.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the application of vertebral pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of burst fracture of thoracolumbar vertebrae.


METHODS
A total of 48 cases (31 males and 17 females, aged from 18-72 years, mean: 41.3 years) with thoracolumbar vertebrae burst fracture were treated by pedicle screw system since January 2004. According to the AO classification of thoracolumbar vertebrae fracture, there are 36 cases of Type A, 9 of Type B and 3 of Type C.


RESULTS
All patients were followed up for 6-25 months (average 12 months), no secondary nerve root injury, spinal cord injury, loosening or breakage of pedicle screw were observed. The nerve function of 29 patients with cauda equina nerve injury was restored to different degrees. The vertebral body height returned to normal level and posterior process angle was rectified after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
The vertebral pedicle screw internal fixation was technologically applicable, which can efficiently reposition and stabilize the bursting fractured vertebrae, indirectly decompress canalis spinalis, maintain spine stability, scatter stress of screw system, reduce the risk of loosening or breakage of screw and loss of vertebral height, and prevent the formation of posterior convex after operation.
Lü
Fu-xin
FX
Osteology Section VII, Qingdao Hospital of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Qingdao 266021, China. lfx0532@163.com
Huang
Yong
Y
Zhang
Qiang
Q
Shi
Feng-lei
FL
Zhao
Dong-sheng
DS
Hu
Qiao
Q
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*