La correzione chirurgica delle deformità post-traumatiche toraciche e lombari

Late deformity is a possible painful and disabling complication of thoracic and lumbar spine injury treatment. Based on a series of 25 post-traumatic deformities treated from 1993 to 2000, indications and surgical techniques are discussed for appropriate treatment. In the series, 20 patients had neurological symptoms. Four cases were treated by posterior approach alone, 21 were submitted to double approach for 360° fusion. In all cases a careful clinical and radiographic follow-up was performed (minimum 4 yrs): kyphosis was completely corrected in 47% of the cases; pain control was complete in 70%, incomplete in 20%, unsuccessful in 10%. According to our data, the best results are correlated to balance restoration, preferably achieved by 360° correction and fusion. Alternatively, the anterior column can be restored by implanting cages through a posterior approach.