J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  1998 Nov;5(2):247-254.

Proximal Half Corpectomy and Fusion of One Motion Segment in Denis Type B Burst Fracture of Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Spine

• Chung JY
• Kim HS
• Lee JY

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: The authors is to report the clinical and radiological results of proximal half corpectomy with one motion segment fusion in Denis type B burst fracture.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the efficacy of proximal half corpectomy in Denis type B burst fracture of thethoracolumbar and lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: For the operative management of burst fracture, various mothods including posterior ligamentotaxis, posterolateral decompression, anterior decompression or combined were reported. Among the methods, anterior decompression by the corpectomy of fractured vertebral body and fusion with or without instrumentation is the one of the widely accepted method of treatment. However, anterior decompression by excision of whole vertebral body has the disadvantage of high complication rate due to the instability from the large defect and long length of bone graft. Moreover, two motion segments have to be sacrified, which is very important especially in thoracolumbar and lumbar area. Material and
METHODS
43 cases operated from 1989 to 1996 and the minimum follow up period was two years and compared with that of 48 cases who were treated by total corpectomy and two motion segment fashion from 1986 to 1989.
RESULTS
Solid bony union was obtained in 43 cases within 6 months and no back pain was complained in 39 cases (93%) at last follow up. There was no significant difference between two groups in correction of anterior vertebral height and kyphotic angle. Length of bone graft was 3.0cm in half corpectomy group and was 6.3cm in total corpectomy group. Hardward breakage or graft collapse was not observed in proximal half corpectomy, while there were 5 cases in total corpectomy.
CONCLUSION
Proximal half corpectomy and fusion of one motion segment in Denis type B burst fracture is believed to be a successful method which can minimize the fused level, increase the stability, preserve motion segment and reduce the complication.

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Decompression
Follow-Up Studies
Spine*
Transplants