Sagittal correction after short percutaneous fixation for thoracolumbar compression fractures: comparison of the combination of SpineJack® kyphoplasty and fractured vertebra screw fixation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare two percutaneous pedicle fixations for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures: one associating a jack kyphoplasty (SpineCut) and the other using intermediate screws (Trident). METHODS: All adult patients treated for single-level Magerl/AO type A thoracolumbar traumatic fractures in four orthopaedic departments, with SpineCut or Trident, with a one year minimum follow-up, were retrospectively included. Neurological disorders and osteoporotic fractures were not included. The following data were collected: age, sex, Magerl/AO type, type of surgery, and complications. Radiological parameters were analyzed on pre-operative CT scan, and on standing X-rays before discharge, at three months and one year post-operative: vertebral wedge angle (VWA), regional kyphosis angle (RKA), and traumatic regional angulation (TRA: difference between RKA and physiological values for each vertebra). RESULTS: Eighty patients were included, with 42 patients in SpineCut group and 38 in Trident group. Mean age was 41 ± 15.7 years. TRA correction did not differ between the groups: respectively 11.2 ± 8.1° in SpineCut versus 10.2 ± 9.1° in Trident group (p = 0.52). TRA loss of correction between early post-operative and three months was statistically higher in Trident group: -4 ± 5.1° versus -1.5 ± 3.8° (p = 0.03). After 3 months, TRA correction loss was comparable between the groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pre-operative VWA was the only factor significantly associated with early TRA correction loss (p = 0.01). VWA correction and loss of correction did not differ significantly between the groups. No complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous pedicle fixations of traumatic thoracolumbar fractures associating jack kyphoplasty and intermediate screws are both safe and efficient techniques.

Intermediate screws or kyphoplasty: Which method of posterior short-segment fixation is better for treating single-level thoracolumbar burst fractures?

PURPOSE: To compare intermediate screws (IS) with kyphoplasty (KP) in posterior short-segment fixation (PSSF) for patients with single-level thoracolumbar burst fractures. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2016, 1465 patients were retrospectively reviewed; 48 patients were enrolled with a minimal follow-up of 2 years. Perioperative and functional outcomes were compared. The regional Cobb angle (CA) was included in radiographic analysis. Implant failures or CA correction loss over 10° were regarded as surgical failures. Multiple linear regression was performed to investigate the risk factors of kyphosis recurrence. RESULTS: Fluoroscopic time (23.7 ± 3.6 vs. 79.3 ± 12.1 s, p < 0.001), operative time (109.6 ± 13.1 vs. 123.8 ± 19.0 min, p = 0.006) and blood loss (104.6 ± 34.9 vs. 129.1 ± 21.7 ml, p = 0.005) were all lower in the IS group. The KP group had lower Visual Analogue Scale scores (3.3 ± 0.9 vs. 2.7 ± 0.8, p = 0.028) and greater anterior body height (ABH) (30.3 ± 9.0 vs. 36.3 ± 11.0%, p = 0.044) after surgery, and less correction loss (5.6 ± 2.7 vs. 0.4 ± 1.2%, p < 0.001). Both groups had a CA correction loss of 4° with a 10% failure rate. The A3 Magerl subclassification, smaller preoperative ABH and smaller postoperative CA had positive correlations with CA correction loss. CONCLUSION: PSSF with KP provides better back pain relief, greater ABH reduction and less correction loss, while IS has the advantages of less operative time, fluoroscopic time and blood loss. Magerl subclassification of burst fracture is a potential predictor for recurrent kyphosis. Reducing fractured vertebral body height rather than segmental curvature may be more important in PSSF. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, non-randomized controlled study. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Outcomes of Short Segment Posterior Instrumentation in Unstable Thoracolumbar Fractures.

INTRODUCTION: The spinal traumas are common and leading problem in orthopaedics practice. The individuals are at a risk of high energy trauma in modern era. Unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures are serious injuries of concern, if left untreated may result in marked morbidity and disability to the patient. Thoracolumbar is the second most common segment involved in the spinal cord following spinal injuries followed by cervical segment. The goal of treatment of any spinal injury is restoration of the patient to maximum possible function with disability free life. AIM: To analyse the outcomes of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures stabilized with short segment posterior instrumentation with transpedicular screws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective interventional study consisted of 32 patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures carried out at Department of Orthopaedics, New Civil Hospital, Surat during Jan 2014 to Dec 2015. We stabilized the patients with unstable thoracolumbar spinal fractures with short segment posterior instrumentation by using the intermediate screw option in the fractured vertebra level as a method of augmentation. Patients were evaluated for maintenance of spinal correction and neurological improvement after short segment posterior instrumentation in unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures. RESULTS: The mean age for males was 35.57 ± 11.62 years and for females was 33.56 ± 11.2 years. The most common vertebra involved in the study group was T12 (31.25%). In the study, about 66% patients had a fall from height as the mode of injury, whereas 34% injuries were due to road traffic accident. In the study group, the mean regional angle observed during pre-operative stages was 16.0°±5.1°. There was a statistically significant (p<0.05) difference between pre-op and post-operative regional angles as well as anterior wedge angles. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the vertebral height between pre-operative and post-operative stages. CONCLUSION: Short segment posterior instrumentation is a very stable implant construct in maintenance of deformity correction and fracture reduction along with the added advantage of sparing of the motion segments.