Search

Background. Thoracolumbar fractures are among the most common and unstable traumatic injuries to the spine. They require a rigid fixation. However, there are controversies in the choice of fixation types. This study aimed to compare longsegment posterior fixation (LSPF) bridging the injured vertebra and short-segment fixation with screws in the fractured vertebra (SSFFV). Methods. This was an analytical study of 22 patients admitted to the Kinshasa University Teaching Hospital from 2020 to 2023 with thoraco-lumbar fractures. Variables of interest included: sex, age, occupation, cause of fracture, ASIA score, injured vertebra, Magerl fracture types, Sagittal Cobb angle (SCA), and level of fixation. Data were analysed using SPSS 26 software. Results. Ten patients (45.4%) had SSFFV and 12 (54.6%) had LSPF. Overall, the sex ratio was 4.5 and, the mean age was 35.27±9.88 years. Road accidents accounted for 72.7% of causes, fracture of L1 (50%), ASIA A (41%) and Magerl B (54,5%). Preoperative features did not show a difference between the two fixations. No difference was observed in function values before surgery (p=0.863) and at one year postoperatively (p=0.914). The mean SCA was 15.57 ± 5.90° before surgery, and 12.60±5.94° one year after surgery showing a significant correction of local kyphosis of 3° (P <0.001). There was no significant difference in the degrees of correction of local kyphosis immediately postoperatively (p=0.591) and at one year postoperative (p=0.819) and also in the degrees of loss of local kyphosis (p=0.870) between SSFFV and LSPF. Conclusion. This study did not show a significant difference in functional recovery, reduction and loss of correction of traumatic kyphosis between the two fixations. The SSFFV therefore appears to be an effective alternative to LSPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Symptomatic pulmonary cement embolism in patients undergoing thoracic transpedicular fenestrated screw placement is rare. Here, we have added a 64-year-old female undergoing transpedicular screw placement for a T11 fracture who developed a pulmonary cement embolism intraoperatively and add this case to 13 others identified in the literature. Case Description: A 64-year-old female presented with a type "C", ASIA "E" T11 fracture. The thoracolumbar pedicle screw fixation was supplemented with bone cement due to her underlying severe osteoporosis. During the fluoroscopy-guided supplementation with bone cement, a leak through the paravertebral venous system was noted. Thirty minutes later, the patient acutely developed extreme respiratory failure and required mechanical ventilation for the next 2 days. The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism due to bone cement was confirmed on a contrast computed tomography study of the chest. Conclusion: Symptomatic pulmonary cement embolization supplementing transpedicular screws placement for osteoporotic bone is rare. Here, we present a 64-year-old female who during transpedicular fixation of a T11 fracture developed an acute pulmonary embolism from the bone cement resulting in the need for 2 days of postoperative artificial ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of including the fractured vertebra in the short‐segment fixation of thoracolumbar (TL) fractures. Methods: A total of 32 patients with thoraco‐lumbar fractures, selected between August 2013 and February 2016, were managed by short‐segment fixation with screws at the level of the fracture, and decompression was performed only for patients with neurological deficits. The patients' functional outcome was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score for neurological condition. All patients were followed up with radiographs. Results: Patients with complete neurologic deficits (n = 3) did not show any neurologic recovery. All ASIA B patients improved to ASIA C. Five ASIA C patients improved to ASIA E. The remaining five ASIA C patients improved to ASIA D. All ASIA D patients improved to ASIA B. At the final follow‐up examination, the mean anterior vertebral height was 21 ± 5 mm, indicating no significant height loss during the follow‐up period. Conclusion: Short‐segment fixation of TL fractures with inclusion of the fracture level into the construct offers good correction of segmental kyphosis, vertebral wedging, and vertebral height loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]