title: Single-Stage Posterior Subtotal Corpectomy and Circumferential Reconstruction for the Treatment of Unstable Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To illustrate the technique of single-stage posterior subtotal corpectomy and circumferential reconstruction for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures and to evaluate the radiographical and clinical outcomes of patients treated using this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 consecutive patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with single-stage posterior subtotal corpectomy and circumferential reconstruction. The mean patient age was 54.8 years. The mean follower up period was 25 months. Five patients suffered from T12 fractures, 10 from L1, 1 from L2. The segmental kyphosis, neurologic status, visual analogue scale for back pain was evaluated before surgery and at follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The segmental kyphotic angle improved from 18.5 degrees before surgery to -9.2 degrees at the last follow up. The mean correction angle was 28.9 degrees. The mean surgical time was 255 minutes, and a mean intraoperative blood loss was 1073 mL. Intraoperative complications included two dural tears, and a superficial wound infection. There were no other severe complications. The mean visual analog scale of back pain decreased from a mean value of 6.6 to 2 at the last follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The single-stage posterior subtotal corpectomy and circumferential reconstruction achieved satisfactory kyphosis correction with direct visualization of the circumferentially decompressed spinal cord, as well as good fusion with less blood loss and complications. It is a safe and reliable surgical treatment option for unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Jean
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Tack
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Spine Center, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Guk
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Min
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Seo
keywords: Burst fracture; Circumferential reconstruction; Posterior subtotal corpectomy