Outcome of short segment fusion in thoracolumbar fractures using posterior instrumentation.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the outcome of posterior short segment fixation in terms of vertebral height in thoracolumbar fractures.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Orthopedic and spine unit Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar. The sample size was 58 patients and study duration was six months. The data was collected on predesigned questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS 22. Average age of the patients was 36.10±10.6 (mention %), 42 (72.4%), and 16 (27.6%) years. Among the patients, males were 33(56.9%) while females were 25(43.1%). Pre op mean anterior vertebral height was 24.6± 1.11 mm (range 22.5mm-26.5mm) while Post op mean vertebral height of fractured vertebrae was increased to 28± 3 mm (range 22.5mm -34.2 mm). In 43(74.1%) patients, 27(75.0%) had A3 type fracture and 16(72.7%) had A4 type of fracture. In all those patients who recovered/improved, 23(79.3%) were having pre op fractured vertebral height less than 25 mm and 20(69.0%) were having greater than 25mm. However, 15(25.9%) patient with vertebral height of fractured vertebrae remained same and did not improve/recover. After 6 months post op, patient neurology was improved mostly in patients with favorable outcome of vertebral height. Altogether, vertebral height and neurology were increased in majority of the patients. There was no implant failure noted.