title: [Incomplete cranial burst fracture in the thoracolumbar junction. Results 6 years after thoracoscopic monosegmental spondylodesis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ventral thoracoscopic spondylodesis of the thoracolumbar spine is an elegant treatment strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the years 2002 and 2003 a total of 16 patients with incomplete cranial burst fractures were treated by ventral thoracoscopic monosegmental spondylodesis and were included in this study prospectively. The data acquisition was done preoperatively, postoperatively and after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. After 6 years a follow-up examination was performed in 13 of these patients (5 men and 8 women, average age 36.3 years, follow-up rate 81%) and 8 patients were treated ventrally only whereas 5 patients were treated dorsoventrally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operative reduction of the kyphotic malalignment was superior in the dorsoventrally treated patients. The persistent gain of monosegmental correction after 6 years seemed to be higher in the patient group treated dorsoventrally. The average physical component summary (PSC) scores were comparable to a control group of the same age and revision surgery was performed in two patients both related to the iliac crest bone graft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ventral and dorsoventral therapy strategies showed good and very good functional outcomes, respectively. The dorsoventral treatment concept secured a persistent gain of monosegmental correction which seemed to be superior compared to a ventral only therapy strategy.
authors.affiliation: Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Deutschland, uli.spiegl@gmx.de.
authors.forename: U J A
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Spiegl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merkel
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bühren
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gonschorek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome