Evaluation of long-term surgical treatment outcomes of thoraco-lumbar spinal fractures – follow-up period of over 10 years

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Agricultural accidents often result in spinal injuries, particularly in fractures of the thoraco-lumbar spine. Surgical treatment of thoraco-lumbar fractures continues to comprise a major medical problem. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the long-term effects of surgical treatments of thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures treated with transpedicular stabilization, combined with posterior interbody spinal fusion (PLIF, also known as spondylodesis) or Daniaux reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 66 patients with a thoracic or lumbar spinal fracture (Th10-L3) type A in the AO classification system, operated in 2000-2005. All patients underwent a short segment transpedicular stabilization, which in 36 patients was combined with posterior interbody spinal fusion, and in 30 other patients combined with Daniaux reconstruction. Radiological assessment was performed based on X-ray imaging. A lateral X-ray image of the spine was used to measure the vertebral wedging angle of the fractured vertebrae, the height ratio of the anterior to posterior vertebral body, and the angle of segmental kyphotic deformation. Subjective long-term assessment of the patient was conducted using the Oswestry Instability Score. The results were analyzed for statistical significance. RESULTS In both groups, similar improvements in all measured parameters were observed. Despite all patients losing some of the correction in the long-term, this loss was significantly smaller following Daniaux reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS Spinal stabilization combined with vertebral reconstruction allows for long-term and improved treatment results for thoraco-lumbar fracture than posterior interbody spinal fusion (spondylodesis).