Clinical Effect of Posterior Short Segment Fixation with Transpedicle Bone Graft for Thoracolumbar Fracture

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of posterior short segment fixation with transpedicle bone graft for thoracolumbar fractures.Methods A total of 56 cases with thoracolumbar fractures were divided into two groups randomly: the simple fixation group with 26 cases were underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation only,while the bone graft group with 30 cases were performed posterior pedicle screw fixation with transpedicle bone graft.Vertebral height compression rate,vertebral Cobb angle and Frankel score of nerve function were analyzed.Results All 56 patients were followed up for 12 to 20 months with an average of 15.8±3.7 months.No complications such as wound infection and screw broken were found.The vertebral height compression rate and Cobb angle was significant difference between pre-operation and post-operation in both two groups(P0.01).In group comparison,the vertebral height compression rate and Cobb angle has no statistic difference at pre-operation and 1 week after operation respectively(P0.05),but there was significant difference at the last follow up between two groups(P0.05),the bone graft group was better than the simple fixation group.The Frankel score of spinal nerve function was significantly improved after operation,but there was no statistic difference between two groups(P0.05).Conclusions Posterior short segment internal fixation with transpedicle bone graft has reliable effect for thoracolumbar vertebral fractures.It can reduce the loss of vertebral height and kyphosis and decrease the complication rate due to internal fixation,and it deserve to popularize.