title: Early mobilisation of thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurology: a natural history observation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors present the results of a cohort study of 60 adult patients presenting sequentially over a period of 15 years from 1997 to 2012 to our hospital for treatment of thoracic and/or lumbar vertebral burst fractures, but without neurological deficit.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were treated by early mobilisation within the limits of pain, early bracing for patient confidence and all progress in mobilisation was recorded on video. Initial hospital stay was one week. Subsequent reviews were made on an outpatient basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration from admission to final follow-up was three months, and longer follow-up was undertaken telephonically. The mean kyphosis deformity on arrival was 17.4° (5° to 29°); mean kyphosis at final discharge three months later was 19.5° (1° to 28°). Spinal canal encroachment had no influence on successful functional recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pain has not been a significant problem for any patient, irrespective of the degree of kyphosis and no patient has a self-perception of clinical deformity. In all, 11 patients took occasional analgesia. All patients returned to their original work level or better. Two patients died 2.5 years after treatment, from unrelated causes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The natural history of thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurology would appear to be benign.
authors.affiliation: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, SY10 7AG, UK.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jaffray
authors.affiliation: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, SY10 7AG, UK.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Eisenstein
authors.affiliation: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, SY10 7AG, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balain
authors.affiliation: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, SY10 7AG, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Bristol Road South, Birmingham B31 2AP, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newton Ede
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001915:Braces; D004434:Early Ambulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burst factures; Rapid Mobilisation