INCOMPLETE PARS INTERARTICULARIS FRACTURES TREATED BY PERCUTANEOUS SCREW FIXATION

Many operations have been recommended to treat Pars Interarticularis fractures that have separated and are persistently symptomatic, but little other than conservative treatment has been recommended for symptomatic incomplete fractures.10 consecutive patients aged 15–28 [mean 21.7 years] were treated operatively between 2010–2014. All but one were either professional athletes [3 cricketers, 2 athletics, 1 soccer] or academy cricketers [3 patients]. 8 patients had unilateral fractures, and two had bilateral fractures at the same level. The duration of pre-operative pain and disability with exercise ranged from 4–24 months [mean 15.4 months].The operation consists of a percutaneous compression screw inserted through a 1.5cm midline skin incision under fluoroscopic guidance: 6 cases were also checked with the O-arm intra-operatively. Post-operation the patients were mobilised with a simple corset and discharged the following day with a customised rehabilitation program.All 12 fractures in 10 patients healed ...