[Clinical observation on influence of vertebral fixation through or across the affected vertebra on vertebral morphology].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the long-term influence of vertebral fixation through or across the affected vertebra on vertebral morphology.


METHODS
Clinical data of 48 patients with simple thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures who were admitted between Jan. 2008 and Dec. 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them 36 cases (28 males and 8 females) were fixed through the injured vertebra (group A) and 12 cases (8 males and 4 females) were fixed across the injured vertebra (group B). All patients were followed up for 6-36 months (mean 11.5 months). The vertebral body height, endplate angle and neurofunction were compared between the two groups before surgery, a week after surgery and at the end of the follow-up period.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in vertebral body height,endplate angle and neurofunction before operation between group A and B (P > 0.05). Vertebral body height and endplate angle improved in both groups a week after operation and at the end of the follow-up period as compared with those before operation (P < 0.05), and the efficacy in group B was significantly better than that in group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in neurofunction between the two groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The fixation method through the injured vertebra had a better reduction effect, more stable fixation, and a better long-term effect on vertebral morphology than that across the injured vertebra in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures.
Department of Orthopaedics, the First People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou 311200, Zhejiang, China cyf_welcome@hotmail.com
Gong-kui
GK
Guan
Yong-feng
YF
Cui
Bao-hua
BH
Zhu
Shi-xin
SX
Bao
Chang-hua
CH
Liu
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery