Thoracolumbar burst fractures requiring instrumented fusion: Should reducted bone fragments be removed? A retrospective study

Surgical treatment of traumatic fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine: A systematic review

Introduction

The treatment of traumatic thoracic and lumbar spine fractures remains controversial. To date no consensus exists on the correct choice of surgical approach and technique.

Research question

to provide a comprehensive up-to-date overview of the available different surgical methods and their quantified outcomes.

Methods

PubMed and EMBASE were searched between 2001 and 2020 using the term 'spinal fractures'. Inclusion criteria were: adults, ≥10 cases, ≥12 months follow-up, thoracic or lumbar fractures, and surgery <3 weeks of trauma. Studies were categorized per surgical technique: Posterior open (PO), posterior percutaneous (PP), stand-alone vertebral body augmentation (SA), anterior scopic (AS), anterior open (AO), posterior percutaneous and anterior open (PPAO), posterior percutaneous and anterior scopic (PPAS), posterior open and anterior open (POAO) and posterior open and anterior scopic (POAS). The PO group was used as a reference group.

Results

After duplicate removal 6042 articles were identified. A total of 102 articles were Included, in which 137 separate surgical technique cohorts were described: PO (n = 75), PP, (n = 39), SA (n = 12), AO (n = 5), PPAO (n = 1), PPAS (n = 1), POAO (n = 2) and POAS (n = 2).

Discussion and conclusion

For type A3/A4 burst fractures, without severe neurological deficit, posterior percutaneous (PP) technique seems the safest and most feasible option in the past two decades. If needed, PP can be combined with anterior augmentation to prevent secondary kyphosis. Furthermore, posterior open (PO) technique is feasible in almost all types of fractures. Also, this technique can provide for an additional posterior decompression or fusion. Overall, no neurologic deterioration was reported following surgical intervention.

Finite element analysis of the indirect reduction of posterior pedicle screw fixation for a thoracolumbar burst fracture

Because burst fractures often involve damage to the column and posterior structures of the spine, the fracture block may invade the spinal canal and compress the spinal cord or the cauda equina, causing corresponding neurological dysfunction. When a thoracolumbar burst fracture is accompanied by the presence of bone in the spinal canal, whether posterior surgery requires spinal canal incision decompression is still controversial. Computed tomography images of the thoracolumbar spine of a 31-year-old male with an L1 burst fracture and Mimics 10.0 were used to establish a three-dimensional fracture model for simulating the indirect reduction process. The model was imported into Ansys 10.0 (ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA), and a 1 to 10 mm displacement was loaded 10° behind the Z-axis on the upper endplate of the L1 vertebral body to simulate position reduction and open reduction. The displacement and stress changes in the intervertebral disc, fractured vertebral body and posterior longitudinal ligament were observed during reduction. Under a displacement loaded 10° behind the Z-axis, the maximum stress in the vertebral body was concentrated on the upper disc of the injured vertebrae. The maximum displacement was in the anterior edge of the vertebral body of the injured vertebrae, and the vertebral body height and the anterior lobes were essentially restored. When the displacement load was applied in the positive Z-axis direction, the maximum displacement was in the posterior longitudinal ligament behind the injured vertebrae. Under a 6 mm load, the posterior longitudinal ligament displacement was 11.3 mm. Under an 8 mm load, this displacement significantly increased to 15.0 mm, and the vertebral stress was not concentrated on the intervertebral disc. A reduction in the thoracolumbar burst fractures by positioning and distraction allowed the injured vertebrae to be restored to normal height and kyphosis. The reduction in the posterior longitudinal ligament can push the bone block in the spinal canal into the reset space and achieve a good reset.

Posterior monoaxial screw fixation combined with distraction-compression technology assisted endplate reduction for thoracolumbar burst fractures: a retrospective study

Background

The management of thoracolumbar burst fractures traditionally involves posterior pedicle screw fixation, but it has some drawbacks. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. They were treated by a modified technique that monoaxial pedicle screws instrumentation and distraction-compression technology assisted end plate reduction.

Methods

From March 2014 to February 2016, a retrospective study including 42 consecutive patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures was performed. The patients had undergone posterior reduction and instrumentation with monoaxial pedicle screws. The fractured vertebrae were also inserted screws as a push point. The distraction -compression technology was used as assisting end plate reduction. All patients were followed up at a minimum of 2 years. These parameters including segmental kyphosis, severity of fracture, neurological function, canal compromise and back pain were evaluated in preoperatively, postoperatively and at the final follow-up.

Results

The average follow-up period was 28.9 ± 4.3 months (range, 24-39mo). No patients had postoperative implant failure at recent follow-up. The mean Cobb angle of the kyphosis was improved from 14.2°to 1.1° (correction rate 92.1%). At final follow-up there was 1.5% loss of correction. The mean preoperative wedge angle was improved from 17.1 ± 7.9°to 4.4 ± 3.7°(correction rate 74.3%). The mean anterior and posterior vertebral height also showed significant improvements postoperatively, which were maintained at the final follow-up(P < 0.05). The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) scores was 8 and 1.6 in preoperation and at the last follow-up, and there was significant difference (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Based on our experience, distraction-compression technology can assist reduction of collapsed endplate directly. Satisfactory fracture reduction and correction of segmental kyphosis can be achieved and maintained with the use of monoaxial pedicle screw fixation including the fractured vertebra. It may be a good treatment approach for thoracolumbar burst fractures.