Operative Treatment of Dorsolumbar Fractures and Fracture Dilocations: Clinical Experiences

Kim, Sang Lim; Kim, Keun Woo; Kim, Myung Ho; Ko, Han Suk; Chung, Doo Young

Abstract

Since the introduction of Holdsworth's new classification on fracture-dislocations of spine with particular emphasis on the role of posterior ligmaent complex, operative reduction and spinal fusion is considered to be an established procedure in treating unstable injuries of the thoracolumbar spine.By stabilizing unstable fractures,nursing, and rehabilitation become much easier. Among the various methods and devices, Harrington instrumentation and posterior spinal fusion have been used and found to be acceptable in our series. Twenty five consecutive patients with unstable fractures and fracture-dislocations' of thoracolumbar spine were treated by open reduction and spinal fusion with Harrington rod fixation at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kang Nam General Hospital Public Corporation from the period of 1982 to 1985. The following results were obtained from analysis of the cases. l. Among 25 cases, 15 (60%) were due to flexion-rotation violence, 5 pure flexion,3 vertical compression, 1 shear fracture respectively. 2. Among 16 cases with neurologic deficit, 15 cases showed considerabel improvement after surgery. 3. Most of the cases showed satisfactory bony fusion, and average postoperative kyphotic angle was 14.4 after 3 months. 4. Although no particular external fixation was adopted, permitting mobility in bed, postoperative correction was relatively well maintained.