Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Paraspinal muscle approach for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture makes it possible for pedicle screw-rod implantation and fixation through paraspinal muscle approach.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of paraspinal muscle approach and conventional approach for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture.
METHODS: Fifty-three patients who suffered from thoracolumbar burst fractures without obvious nerve injury were included; all the patients were injured with kyphosis greater than 20° and/or anterior vertebral height collapse larger than 50%. The patients were treated with paraspinal muscle approach (n=28) and conventional approach (n=25) respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The visual analog scale of the patients treated with paraspinal muscle approach was significantly decreased when compared with the patients treated with conventional approach (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the radiographic results (Cobb angle, height of anterior edge of the fractured vertebrae and midsagital diameter of the fractured spinal canal) between two groups (P > 0.05). Paraspinal muscle space approach fixation can reach the same effect with conventional approach for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures, and can promote functional recovery.