Clinical Study of Operative Cases in Thoraco-lumbar Fracture-Dislocations.

Abstract

Operative cases in thoraco-lumbar fracture-dislocations were investigated. Nine males underwent surgical reduction, decompression and posterior instrumentations using ISOLA in 7 patients and VSP in 2 from June 1993 to July 1998. The age at the surgery ranged from 24 to 49 years old (average 33 years old) and follow-up period from 4 months to 65 months (average 17 months). The dislocated vertebrae ranged from T9 to L2 and 3.4 vertebrae on average were included into fusion area. Four patients underwent urgent operations and 5 patients elected operations.The duration of bed rest averaged 2 weeks. Six patients represented complete paraplesia preoperatively and no one improved postoperatively. Three patients with incomplete paraparesis improved completely (2 patients D→E, 1 patient B→E). After surgery the mean kyphotic angle before, justafter, at follow-up were 12°, 0°, and 4° respectively. Therefore good reduction was achieved and the correction loss was small. Three patients complained of persistent girdle pain of the torso but there was no relation with the correction loss of the kyphosis after surgery.