Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2012, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (39): 7237-7241.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2012.39.004

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Short-segment pedicle instrumentation for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures

Hao Gang1, 2, Sun Tian-sheng1, Li Shao-guang1, Wang Hui-hui2   

  1. 1Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Beijing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100700, China
    2Graduate Department of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
  • Received:2012-02-09 Revised:2012-04-09 Online:2012-09-23 Published:2012-09-23
  • Contact: Sun Tian-sheng, Chief physician, Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Beijing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100700, China
  • About author:Hao Gang★, Studying for master’s degree, Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Beijing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100700, China; Graduate Department of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China haogang0107@163.com

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the short-segment pedicle instrumentation has been widely used which makes the reliability of the “spine load” scoring system to be questioned, lots of related reports have confirmed the effect of short-segment pedicle instrumentation for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of short-segment pedicle instrumentation for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 38 patients with thoracolumbar fractures selected from the Department of Orthopedics, the General Hospital of Beijing Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from May 2007 to October 2010, all the patients were treated with posterior short-segment pedicle instrumentation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All the 38 patients were followed-up for 10.3-28.9 months. The average relative kyphosis Cobb angle at the final follow-up was 9.0°, with an average loss of correction of 6.3°. The average loss of correction was 6.4° in type A fractures, 5.7° in type B fractures, 7.4° in type C fractures; the average loss of correction was 5.7° for Load Sharing Classification point of ≤6 and 7.5° for Load Sharing Classification point of≥7. The average loss of correction among the patients of thoracolumbar fractures (T11-L2) and lower lumbar fracture (L3-L5) was 6.3° and 6.5°, the loss of correction of 11 patients (30%) was more than 10°, the average loss of correction was 11.5° (10.1°-16.3°), and 4 patients in type A fractures, 4 patients in type B fractures, 3 patients in type C fractures, and 5 patients in Load Sharing Classification point of ≤6, 6 patients in Load Sharing Classification point of ≥7. There was no significant difference between different groups. Our data suggest that short-segment pedicle instrumentation can be successful for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures regardless the AO fracture classification and Load Sharing Classification characteristics of the fracture pattern. The effect of short-segment pedicle instrumentation for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures and lower lumbar fracture is similar.

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