RESUMO
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of anteroposterior approach (APA) versus anterior approach (AA) for decompression,fusion and fixation for single-level unstable thoracolumbar vertebrae fractures concomitant with incomplete neurologic symptoms and injury to posterior ligament complex (PLC).Methods From February 2006 to June 2012,55 patients were treated for single-level unstable thoracolumbar vertebrae fractures.Of them,27 were treated by only anterior decompression and lateral screw-rod instrumentation and 28 by anterior decompression and fusion combined with open posterior pedicle fixation of one to two segments above and below the fracture position.The 2 groups were compared at postoperative 3 and 12 months in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS),overall score of short-form health survey (SF-36),Japanese Orthopaedics Association (JOA) score of lower back,Oswestry disability index (ODI),loss ratio of anterior margin of vertebral height,endplate angle of kyphotic deformity of superior-inferior adjacent vertebrae,wedge angle of fractured vertebra via radiographic measurement and canal compromise rate.The neurologic functional recovery was analyzed using the American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) evaluation system at postoperative 12 months.Results There were no significant differcnces in operative time,amount of blood loss or postoperative drainage between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).At postoperative 3 months,the VAS and JOA scores in the APA group were significantly better than those in the AA group (P ＜ 0.05).At 12 months after surgery,the VAS,kyphotic angle of adjacent vertebra,wedge angle of fractured vertebra and the ASIA improvements in the APA group were significantly better than those in the AA group (P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the other indexes at postoperative 3 or 12 months (P ＞ 0.05).All the comparative indexes were significantly improved than the preoperative values in all the patients in the 2 groups at both 3 and 12 months (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Compared with the merely anterior approach,the combined antero-posterior approach may have advantages of better immediate and persistent reduction,steadily rebuilding fractured alignment,continuously maintaining injured biomechanical stability,and obviously improving neurological function.As the antero-posterior approach allows for combination of posterior auxiliary reduction and fixation with anterior definitive support and decompression,it may lead to a safe and effective treatment of unstable single-level thoracolumbar fracture concomitant with incomplete neurologic and PLC impairments.
RESUMO
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of anterior pelvic plating plus percutaneous lumbo-iliac rod/screw fixation in the treatment of pelvic fractures which are vertically and rotationally unstable and combined with unilateral sacral fracture of Denis type Ⅱ.Methods From January 2008 to November 2012,19 patients were treated for compound injury to the anterior and posterior pelvic rings complicated with sacral fracture of unilateral Denis type Ⅱ using anterior pelvic plating plus posterior percutaneous fixation of lumbo-ilium with screws.Their improvement in neurological function,reduction outcome and clinical effectiveness were evaluated by comparing preoperation and 2 years postoperation in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS),Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for lower back pain,MOS Item Short-form health survey (SF-36 comprehensive scale),modified Roland-Morris Disability questionnaire (RDQ),Oswestry disability index (ODI),Gibbons overall scale,Majeed total score,sacral kyphosis abnormity,bias of sagittal/coronal vertical axis (SVA/CVA),pelvic incidence,pelvic tilt,lumbar lordosis,vertical displace,and leg length discrepancy.Results The differences respectively reached statistical significance for the aforementioned clinical and imaging parameters between preoperation and 2 years postoperation (P ＜ 0.05).By Majeed scoring,13 cases were rated as excellent,4 as good and 2 as fair.By Tometta/Matto scoring postoperatively,the fracture reduction was rated as excellent in 12 cases,as good in 6 and as fair in one.The complications of incision infection or necrosis,secondary neurovascular damage,implant failure or mal-union was not observed.Perfect nerve functional recovery and sufficient imaging reduction were achieved in all but one patient who had to receive decompression and release for sacral canals or foramens.According to Mohammad criteria,15 patients were engaged in the jobs with the same intensity and property as their pre-injury ones.Conclusions The simultaneous hybrid performance of anterior reconstruction plating combined with unilateral lumbar/sacral pedicle and iliac screwing may be a safe,reliable and satisfactory treatment for pelvic fractures of AO/Tile C1 type which involve unilateral sacral Denis type Ⅱ.
