Objective To investigate the effectiveness and feasibil ity of modified single-stage transpedicular decompression, debridement, and posterior instrumentation in treatment of thoracic tuberculosis. Methods Between January 2005 and December 2009, 22 cases of thoracic tuberculosis were treated with modified single-stage transpedicular decompression, debridement, and posterior instrumentation. There were 12 males and 10 females with an average age of 39.4 years (range, 22-52 years). The mean disease duration was 1.2 years (range, 3 months to 10 years). The involved vertebral bodies were T5-12, including 2 segments in 17 cases and 3 segments in 5 cases. The kyphosis Cobb angle was (31.2 ± 14.5)° before operation. According to Frankel score system for neurological deficits, 2 cases were classified as grade A, 1 case as grade B, 8 cases as grade C, 5 cases as grade D, 1 case as grade E, and 5 cases had no neurological deficits before operation. Results All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 22.2 months on average (range, 12-65 months). Pain in low back was rel ieved in varying degrees 2 weeks after operation. Fusion was achieved in the bone implant area at 3 months after operation. According to Frankel score system, 1 case was rated as grade B, 2 cases as grade C, 4 cases as grade D, 7 cases as grade E, and 8 cases had no neurological deficits at last follow-up. The kyphosis Cobb angle was (16.2 ± 3.6)°, showing significant difference when compared with the value before operation (t=5.952, P=0.001). No loosening, emersion, breakage of internal fixation or pneumothorax occurred 1 year after operation. Conclusion Single-stage transpedicular decompression and posterior instrumentation is an effective and safe method in treatment of thoracic tuberculosis.
Objective To study the effectiveness of transpedicular intervertebral bone graft and pedicle screws fixation in injured vertebrae for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. Methods Between February 2007 and January 2009, 25 patients with thoracolumbar fractures were treated by posterior short-segment fixation combined with transpedicular intervertabral bone graft and pedicle screw fixation in injured vertebrae. There were 18 males and 7 females with a mean ageof 46 years (range, 28-63 years). The injured vertebrae were located at T10 in 1 case, T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 8 cases, L1 in 6 cases, L2 in 6 cases, L3 in 1 case, and L4 in 1 case. According to Denis classification, there were 14 cases of burst fractures and 11 cases of compression fractures. Based on Frankel classifications, 2 cases were rated as grade A, 4 cases as grade B, 8 cases as grade C, 7 cases as grade D, and 4 cases as grade E. The time between injury and operation was 6 hours to 7 days (mean, 4.6 days). The X-ray film was taken to measure the relative height of fractured vertebrae and Cobb angle, and Frankel classification was conducted to evaluate the function recovery of the spinal cord. Results The operations were performed successfully, and incisions healed primarily. All the patients were followed up 12-25 months (mean, 16 months). CT and X-ray films showed good bone graft heal ing and no loosening or breakage of screws and rods. The relative height of fractured vertebrae were 56.8% ± 15.6% at preoperation, 91.2% ± 10.7% immediately after operation, and 89.6% ± 10.3% at 1 year after operation, showing significant differences between preoperation and postoperation (P lt; 0.01), while no significant difference between immediately after operation and 1 year after operation. The Cobb angles were (18.2 ± 2.6), (7.5 ± 1.4), and (8.7 ± 1.1)°, respectively, showing significant differences between preoperation and postoperation (P lt; 0.01), while no significant difference between immediately and 1 year after operation. At 1 year after operation, the neural function in 16 cases was improved 1-3 grades. ConclusionTreatment of thoracolumbar fractures with transpedicular intervertebral bone graft and pedicle screw fixation in injuredvertebrae has satisfactory effectiveness, which can reconstruct vertebral body height, increase the stabil ity of anterior and middle
ObjectiveTo investigate the stability of unilateral fractured vertebral pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture. MethodsEighteen fresh calf thoracolumbar spine specimens (T11-L3) were obtained to establish the L1 burst fracture models with Panjabi's high speed trauma apparatus, and were divided into 3 groups:pedicle fixation for adjacent upper and lower vertebrae of fractured vertebra (4 pedicle screws in group A), combined with pedicle screw fixation for unilateral fractured vertebrae (5 pedicle screws in group B), and three-level 6 pedicle fixation (group C). Under normal, fractured, and reconstructed conditions, the range of motion (ROM) of adjacent upper and lower vertebrae of fractured vertebra were measured in flexion, extension, bilateral bending, and axial rotation. Axial stiffness under flexion-compression was measured on the MTS-858 testing system. ResultsThere was no significant difference in ROM and axial stiffness under normal and fractured conditions in all directions among groups (P<0.05), indicating load balance in the groups. ROM of groups B and C were significantly less than that of group A under reconstructed condition in all directions (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between group B and group C (P>0.05). Biomechanical test showed that group B was significantly higher than group A in the axial stiffness value (P<0.05), but difference was not significant between group B and group C (P>0.05). ConclusionTranspedicular fixation of fractured vertebrae can enhance the stability of the spine. Both unilateral and bilateral fractured vertebral pedicle screw fixations have the same stability.