title: Acrylic kyphoplasty in recent nonosteoporotic fractures of the thoracolumbar junction: a prospective clinical and 3D radiologic study of 54 patients.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective clinical and radiological study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of stand-alone acrylic kyphoplasty in the treatment of recent traumatic fractures of the thoracolumbar spine in young patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The management of fractures of the thoracolumbar spine without neurological deficit remains controversial. For a long time clinicians could only chose between functional treatment, orthopedic treatment, and traditional surgery. The recent advent of minimally invasive surgical techniques is an interesting alternative.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients with a mean age of 45.8±18.2 years and who had recently sustained a fracture of the thoracolumbar junction were enrolled into the study. Balloon kyphoplasty was performed using acrylic cement. Radiologic assessments (computed tomography scans) and clinical assessments (including Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores) were used to determine kyphoplasty success and measure patient recovery over 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kyphoplasty reduced mean vertebral kyphosis from 12.8±5.0 degrees at trauma to 8.2±5.1 degrees at 2-year follow-up. Mean vertebral kyphosis was corrected by -5.7±4.7 degrees (P=0.0001) at the point of first verticalization, with no significant change at the 2-year follow-up visit (+1.1±4.3 degrees, P=0.1058). Kyphoplasty significantly augmented the height of the 6 anterior and intermediate segments. Maximum mean augmentation of intermediate vertebral height after 6 months was (11.6%±15.5%, P<0.0001). Patients tolerated the procedure well and 56% of them returned to work 3 months after kyphoplasty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kyphoplasty is safe and effective in the correction of nonosteoporotic fractures of the thoracolumbar junction in young patients, and remains stable for at least 2 years postsurgery.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologie, CHU de Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86000 Poitiers, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saget
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teyssedou
authors.forename: Remi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prebet
authors.forename: Tanguy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vendeuvre
authors.forename: Louis-Etienne
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gayet
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pries
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate