Validity of the Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System for Thoracolumbar Spine Injuries

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the validity of the thoracolumbar injury classification system (TLICS) when making treatment decisions in a group of thoracolumbar fracture patients. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW Few studies have evaluated the validity of the TLICS in consecutively treated patients, although many have evaluated the application of the TLICS to thoracolumbar injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed among the 230 patients who were treated from 2003 to 2015 in our hospital for thoracolumbar injuries. Evaluations were made of clinical outcomes and radiologic results, and each case was analysed and scored according to the American Spinal Injury Association scale, the Magerl/AO classification, and the TLICS classification by 2 spinal surgeons. RESULTS: Of the 230 patients, 116 (50.4%) received conservative treatment and 114 (49.6%) received surgical treatment. Of the 116 patients who received conservative treatment, 112 (96.6%) were treated according to the TLICS guidelines. Conservative treatment failed for 2 of the 4 patients (1.7%) whose treatment did not correspond with TLICS, and they required surgical treatment. Of the 114 patients who underwent surgical treatment, in 87 (76.3%) the treatment corresponded to the TLICS guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The TLICS classification showed high validity for the conservative treatment of thoracolumbar injuries.