title: Predictors of outcome in the non-operative management of thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Burst fractures without neurological deficit are often treated successfully without surgery. A subgroup may fail non-operative treatment owing to pain, and opt for surgery. The following review was conducted to identify predictors of success or failure in the non-operative treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 60 patients with T11-L4 thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated non-operatively, with bed rest and bracing until the pain abated sufficiently to allow mobilization. Patients were followed prospectively for a mean ± SD of 12 ± 14 months, and their data were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients successfully completed non-operative treatment. Owing to intractable pain in nine, surgery was undertaken. Ages in the non-operative and operative groups were 46 ± 18 and 68 ± 15 years respectively (p = 0.002). The residual canal and angulation at the site of the fracture were 63 ± 12% and 1.6 ± 8.4° in the non-operative group and 47 ± 15% and 6.6 ± 13.6° in the surgical group (p = 0.001 and 0.149 between groups, respectively). Regression analysis of age, gender, angulation, and residual canal showed that only age (OR, 1.099; 95% CI, 1.022-1.183; p = 0.011) and residual canal (OR, 0.795; 95% CI, 0.642-0.985; p = 0.035) were significant predictors of failure, ultimately undergoing surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-surgical treatment was more likely to prove sufficient in patients aged 46 ± 18 years, and residual canal of 63 ± 12%, than in older patients with ages of 68 ± 15, and canal of 47 ± 15%. The latter group was more likely to fail, undergoing surgery because of pain or instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa , Iowa City, IA , USA.
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hitchon
authors.forename: Wenzhuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viljoen
authors.forename: Nader S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Dahdaleh
authors.forename: Rajinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noeller
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: burst; fractures; spinal instrumentation; spine fracture; thoracolumbar