Objective To investigate the efficacy of the pedicle screw fixation and allograft bone in posterior spinal fusion for the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures. Methods From September 2006 to March 2008, 105 cases of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures were treated with allograft bone in posterior spinal fusion after the pedicle screw fixation,including 75 males and 30 males aged 15-65 years (mean 37 years). The mixture which consisted of spinous process and vertebral plate sclerotin and homogeneity variant bone was used as bone graft to implant into articular process and processus transversus space or vertebral plate space. The time from injury to surgery varied from 8 hours to 21 days, with an average of 3 days. There were 52 cases of fall ing injuries from height, 35 cases of traffic accident injuries, 11 cases of bruise injuries and 7 cases of tumbl ing injuries. Before operation, the primary cl inical symptoms of patients included local pain combined with l imitation of activity, 30 cases compl icated by various degrees of spinal cord and nerve root functional disturbance. According to Mcaffee classification, there were 7 cases of flexion depressed fractures, 86 cases of blow-out fractures, 9 cases of Chance fractures and 3 cases of dislocation-fracture. According to Frankel grade, there were 11 cases of grade A, 2 cases of grade B, 7 cases of grade C, 10 cases of grade D and 75 cases of grade E. The X-ray examination of all patients denoted that the bodies of injuryed vertebra were compressed and wedge-shaped, and the CT scan showed that 98 cases had spinal stenosis. After 2 weeeks and 3, 6, 12 months, the X-ray films were taken to evaluate bone graft fusion. The Cobb angle was measured. The recovery of nerve function was analyzed. Results The operation time was 55-180 minutes (mean 90 minutes) and the blood loss was 100-900 mL (mean 200 mL). All patients achieved heal ing by first intention with no compl ication. After operation, 93 cases were followed up for 6-15 months with an average of 11 months. Except for 11 patients who were at grade A before operation, one to two grade recover was observed in other patients. The average Cobb angle of injury segment was improved from preoperative 32.1° to postoperative 5.2°. The height of anterior border of injuried vertebral body was recovered from the preoperative average compressed remaining height 61.5% to postoperative 96.8%. The vestigial degree of canal is spinal is anteroposterior diameter was recovered from preoperative 65.7% to postoperative 89.9%. Imageology examination showed that all the patient achieved bone union within 6 months. The fusion rate of bone graft in spinal fusion was 100%. No loosening and breaking of nails occurred. Conclusion Pedicle fixators can restore and fix the thoracolumbar fractures, and the combination of autograft and allograft bone transplantation is a safe, rel iable and effective method.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of artificial dura mater on the prevention and treatment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage associated with thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation. Methods A total of 58 patients with thoracolumbar fracture and dislocation combined with dura mater injury and CSF leakage were treated in Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2011 to December 2016, including 30 males and 28 females, aged from 15 to 86 years, with an average of (51.8±16.3) years. All patients were treated with posterior pedicle screw system for decompression, reduction fixation and fusion, dura mater and spinal cord injury were investigated, and external nerve roots or caudate nerves were exposed. At the same time; the dura mater was sutured and repaired and partially covered with gelatinous sponge (group A, 24 cases), or after dura mater was sutured and repaired, the artificial dura mater was partially covered (group B, 34 cases). The curative effect and complications of the two different treatment methods were evaluated. Results All operations were successfully completed. The operative time was 110–340 minutes, with an average of (195.0±10.4) minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 200–2 800 mL, with an average of (845.0±26.5) mL. In group A, 13 patients (54.1%) acquired wound healing, and the average CSF leakage duration was (13.4±1.6) days postoperatively, among whom 3 cases were complicated with pseudomeningocele; 11 cases (45.9%) failed and necessitated additional management. Among the 11 cases, 6 case had no decreasing tendency of CSF leakage after 10-day drainage, and after subarachnoid drainage was performed, CSF leakage disappeared about 15 days after operation; 3 (12.5%) with wound infection underwent operative incision debridement, after the repair of the dura sac, the subarachnoid CSF was drainage at the lumbar part combined with the systemic situation with antibiotics and other symptomatic treatment, and the patients were cured about 16 days after the operation; 2 (8.3%) with spinal meningitis underwent subarachnoid CSF drainage and administration of antibiotics, and the CSF leakage ceased about 14 days after operation. In group B, 27 patients (79.4%) acquired wound healing, and the average CSF leakage duration was (9.1±1.7) days postoperatively; among whom, 4 cases were complicated with pseudomeningocele; 7 cases (20.6%) failed and necessitated additional management. Among the 7 cases, 5 cases had no decreasing tendency of CSF leakage after 10-day drainage, and CSF leakage disappeared around 12 days after treatment; 1 case (2.9%) with wound infection and 1 case (2.9%) with spinal meningitis, both were cured after the treatment as in group A. Conclusion Dural suture repair combined with artificial dura mater mulch repair can more effectively repair the dura tears associated with thoracolumbar vertebral fracture dislocation and reduce the incidence of CSF leakage.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of sagittal top compression reduction technique in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 59 patients with thoracolumbar vertebral fractures who met the selection criteria and were admitted between November 2018 and January 2022. Among them, 34 patients were treated with sagittal top compression reduction technique (top pressure group), and 25 patients were treated with traditional reduction technique (traditional group). There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05), including gender, age, fracture segment, cause of injury, AO classification of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures, thoracolumbar injury classification and severity (TLICS) score, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading, surgical approach, preoperative vertebral body index, height ratio of the anterior margin of injured vertebra, injured vertebra angle, segmental kyphosis angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry disability index (ODI). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and incidence of complications between the two groups were recorded and compared. After operation, VAS score and ODI were used to evaluate effectiveness, and X-ray and CT examinations were performed to measure imaging indicators such as vertebral body index, height ratio of the anterior margin of injured vertebra, injured vertebra angle, and segmental kyphosis angle. ResultsThere was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups (P>0.05). No complication such as dural sac, nerve root, or vascular injury was found during operation, and all incisions healed by first intention. Patients in both groups were followed up 6-48 months, with an average of 20.6 months. No loosening, breakage, or failure of internal fixation occurred during follow-up. The imaging indicators, VAS score, and ODI of the two groups significantly improved at 1 week and last follow-up when compared to preoperative ones (P<0.05). At last follow-up, the VAS score and ODI further significantly improved when compared to 1 week after operation (P<0.05). At 1 week after operation and last follow-up, the vertebral body index, segmental kyphosis angle, injured vertebra angle, and ODI in the top pressure group were significantly better than those in the traditional group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS score and height ratio of the anterior margin of injured vertebra between the two groups at 1 week after operation (P>0.05), but the two indicators in the top pressure group were significantly better than those in the traditional group at last follow-up (P<0.05). Conclusion The treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with sagittal top compression reduction technique can significantly improve the quality of vertebral reduction, and is superior to traditional reduction techniques in relieving pain and improving spinal function.