Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture Dislocation

Study Design This was a prospective study of 50 patients of thoracolumbar fracture dislocation treated at a single institution with short-segment fixation with the inclusion of fracture level. Purpose To assess the outcomes of including the fracture level in short-segment fixation for thoracolumbar...

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Main Authors: Jimmy Jyotinbhai Chokshi, Manish Shah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Spine Society 2019-02-01
Series:Asian Spine Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2018-0064.pdf
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author Jimmy Jyotinbhai Chokshi
Manish Shah
author_facet Jimmy Jyotinbhai Chokshi
Manish Shah
author_sort Jimmy Jyotinbhai Chokshi
collection DOAJ
description Study Design This was a prospective study of 50 patients of thoracolumbar fracture dislocation treated at a single institution with short-segment fixation with the inclusion of fracture level. Purpose To assess the outcomes of including the fracture level in short-segment fixation for thoracolumbar fracture dislocation. Overview of Literature Traditionally, thoracolumbar fracture dislocation is treated with long-segment posterior fixation. However, to save motion segments, short-segment fixation has been used instead in many cases of thoracolumbar trauma. Methods In this study, 50 patients with thoracolumbar fracture dislocation were treated with short-segment fixation with inclusion of the fracture level; patients with pathological fractures or with a McCormack load-sharing score >6 were excluded. The 50 patients were prospectively followed for at least 1 year. The duration of surgery, blood loss, and complications were noted. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score was used to measure pain, and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was used to determine the neurological status at follow-up. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and final follow-up X-rays were used to measure the kyphotic angle using Cobb’s method. Results The mean age of our patients was 33.4 years, and the male:female ratio was 1.9:1. The mean follow-up period was 18.4 months (range, 12–23 months). Injuries were mainly at the thoracolumbar junction area (T11–L2, 41 cases, 82%). The average duration of surgery was 94.6 minutes, and the average blood loss was 394.8 mL. Postoperative infection occurred in two cases and implant failure in one case. The kyphosis angle values were as follows: average preoperative, 26.80°±14.50°; immediate postoperative, 4.30°±8.70°; and final follow-up, 5.50°±110°. The ASIA scale and VAS score at final follow-up showed improvement. Conclusions Inclusion of the fracture level in short-segment fixation for thoracolumbar fracture dislocation (McCormack load-sharing score ≤6) gives good kyphosis correction and correction maintenance. It can also obviate the need for traditional long-segment fixation.
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spelling doaj.art-e450cca9514347cab0b5916338e7ec832022-12-22T02:38:29ZengKorean Spine SocietyAsian Spine Journal1976-19021976-78462019-02-01131566010.31616/asj.2018.0064989Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture DislocationJimmy Jyotinbhai Chokshi0Manish Shah1 Department of Orthopaedics, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, India Department of Orthopaedics, Government Spine Institute, Ahmedabad, IndiaStudy Design This was a prospective study of 50 patients of thoracolumbar fracture dislocation treated at a single institution with short-segment fixation with the inclusion of fracture level. Purpose To assess the outcomes of including the fracture level in short-segment fixation for thoracolumbar fracture dislocation. Overview of Literature Traditionally, thoracolumbar fracture dislocation is treated with long-segment posterior fixation. However, to save motion segments, short-segment fixation has been used instead in many cases of thoracolumbar trauma. Methods In this study, 50 patients with thoracolumbar fracture dislocation were treated with short-segment fixation with inclusion of the fracture level; patients with pathological fractures or with a McCormack load-sharing score >6 were excluded. The 50 patients were prospectively followed for at least 1 year. The duration of surgery, blood loss, and complications were noted. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score was used to measure pain, and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was used to determine the neurological status at follow-up. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and final follow-up X-rays were used to measure the kyphotic angle using Cobb’s method. Results The mean age of our patients was 33.4 years, and the male:female ratio was 1.9:1. The mean follow-up period was 18.4 months (range, 12–23 months). Injuries were mainly at the thoracolumbar junction area (T11–L2, 41 cases, 82%). The average duration of surgery was 94.6 minutes, and the average blood loss was 394.8 mL. Postoperative infection occurred in two cases and implant failure in one case. The kyphosis angle values were as follows: average preoperative, 26.80°±14.50°; immediate postoperative, 4.30°±8.70°; and final follow-up, 5.50°±110°. The ASIA scale and VAS score at final follow-up showed improvement. Conclusions Inclusion of the fracture level in short-segment fixation for thoracolumbar fracture dislocation (McCormack load-sharing score ≤6) gives good kyphosis correction and correction maintenance. It can also obviate the need for traditional long-segment fixation.http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2018-0064.pdfThoracolumbarFractureDislocationShort segmentFixation
spellingShingle Jimmy Jyotinbhai Chokshi
Manish Shah
Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture Dislocation
Asian Spine Journal
Thoracolumbar
Fracture
Dislocation
Short segment
Fixation
title Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture Dislocation
title_full Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture Dislocation
title_fullStr Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture Dislocation
title_full_unstemmed Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture Dislocation
title_short Outcomes of Including Fracture Level in Short-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Fracture Dislocation
title_sort outcomes of including fracture level in short segment fixation for thoracolumbar fracture dislocation
topic Thoracolumbar
Fracture
Dislocation
Short segment
Fixation
url http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2018-0064.pdf
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