title: Comparison of surgical outcomes in thoracolumbar fractures operated with posterior constructs having varying fixation length with selective anterior fusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical treatment in the case of thoracolumbar burst fractures is very controversial. Posterior instrumentation is most frequently used, however, but the number of levels to be instrumented still remains a matter of debate.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 94 patients who had a single burst fracture between T11 and L2 were selected and were managed using posterior instrumentation with anterior fusion when necessary. They were divided into three groups as follows; Group I (n = 28) included patients who were operated by intermediate segment fixation, Group II (n = 32) included patients operated by long segment fixation, and Group III (n = 34) included those operated by intermediate segment fixation with a pair of additional screws in the fractured vertebra. The mean follow-up period was twenty one months. The outcomes were analyzed in terms of kyphosis angle (KA), regional kyphosis angle (RA), sagittal index (SI), anterior height compression rate, Frankel classification, and Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Groups II and III, the correction values of KA, RA, and SI were much better than in Group I. At the final follow up, the correction values of KA (6.3 and 12.1, respectively) and SI (6.2 and 12.0, respectively) were in Groups II and III found to be better in the latter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intermediate segment fixation with an additional pair of screws at the fracture level vertebra gives results that are comparable or even better than long segment fixation and gives an advantage of preserving an extra mobile segment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hak Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Yup
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ankur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.forename: Ju Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seong Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hwan Mo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Eun Su
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult