Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of using pedical screw at the fracture level, intervertebral distraction, and Cage insertion by posterior approach to treat thoracolumbar kyphosis caused by old fracture. Methods Between June 2008 and June 2010, 15 cases of thoracolumbar kyphosis caused by old fracture were treated with pedical screw at the fracture level, intervertebral distraction, and Cage insertion by posterior approach. There were 9 males and 6 females with a mean age of 54.6 years (range, 39-65 years). The disease duration was 5 months to 3 years with an average of 1.5 years. Fractured segments included T11 in 1 case, T12 in 4 cases, L1 in 5 cases, and L2 in 5 cases. Ten patients had nerve symptom, according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading, 3 cases were classified as grade B, 4 cases as grade C, and 3 cases as grade D, of which 3 cases had sexual and sphincter dysfunction. At preoperation, the Cobb angle was (47.4 ± 10.2)°; the Oswestry disability index (ODI) score was 67.9% ± 6.9%; and the visual analogue scale (VSA) was 8.6 ± 1.4. Results The wounds obtained primary healing. The mean follow-up time was 28 months (range, 13-60 months). X-ray films showed intervertebral bone fusion was obtained within 6-11 months (mean, 10.2 months). No fixation loosening or breaking occurred during follow-up. Kyphosis was corrected, and lumbar back pain was relieved. At 1 year after operation, Cobb angle was significantly corrected to (13.3 ± 7.7)° (t=72.80, P=0.00); ODI score was significantly improved to 25.2% ± 4.6% (t=48.04, P=0.00); VAS score was significantly decreased to 2.3 ± 0.6 (t=26.52, P=0.00). According to ASIA grading in 10 patients with spinal cord injury, the spinal cord function was improved by 1 grade in 8 cases (3 cases from grade B to C, 3 cases from grade C to D, and 2 cases from grade D to E); 3 patients with sexual and sphincter dysfunction recovered in different degrees. Conclusion Using pedical screw at the fracture level, intervertebral distraction, and Cage insertion by posterior approach is an effective method to treat thoracolumbar kyphosis caused by old fracture.
Objective To compare the surgical efficacy of different operating methods for treating old thoracolumbarfracture with spinal cord injury. Methods From September 2000 to March 2006, 34 cases of old thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury were treated. Patients were divided into 2 groups randomly. Group A (n=18): anterior approach osteotomy, il iac bone graft and internal fixation were used. There were 10 males and 8 females with the age of 17-54 years. The apex level of kyphosis was T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 5 cases, L1 in 8 cases and L2 in 3 cases. The average preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis was (36.33 ± 3.13)°, and the average preoperative difference in height between anterior and posterior of involved vertebra was (22.34 ± 11.61) mm. Neurological dysfunction JOA score was 10.44 ± 1.12. Group B (n=16): transpedicular posterior decompression and internal fixation were used. There were 8 males and 8 females with the age of 18-56 years. The apex level of kyphosis was T11 in 2 cases, T12 in 6 cases, L1 in 7 cases and L2 in 1 case. The preoperative Cobb angle of kyphosis was (38.55 ± 4.22)°, and the preoperative difference in height between anterior and posterior of involved vertebra was (20.61 ± 10.22) mm. Neurological dysfunction JOA score was 10.23 ± 2.23. Results All the patients were followed up for 9-46 months with an average of 13.5 months. Cobb angle was (12.78 ± 3.76)° in group A, which was improved by (24.23 ± 1.64)° campared to that of preoperation; and was (10.56 ± 4.23)° in group B, which was improved by (26.66 ± 1.66)°. JOA score was 14.21 ± 1.08 in group A, which wasimproved by 3.92 ± 1.33; and it was 13.14 ± 2.32 in group B, which was improved by 3.12 ± 1.95. The average postoperative difference between anterior height and posterior height of vertebral body in group A was (3.11 ± 1.06) mm, which was improved by (18.03 ± 2.14) mm; and it was (2.56 ± 1.33) mm in group B, which was corrected by (20.36 ± 3.78) mm. There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between preoperation and postoperation in 2 groups (P lt; 0.01), but no significant differences between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). In group A, pleural effusion occurred in 2 cases and local pulmonary collapse in 4 cases and intercostals neuralgia in 1 case. In group B, leakage of cerebrospinal fluid occurred in 3 cases. Conclusion Both anterior and posterior approach are capable of treating of the old thoracolumbar fracture with incomplete spinal cord injury and providing the satisfying result of deformation correction, neurological decompression and neurological functional recovery to a certain extent.
Objective To introduce a scout view scanning technique of back-forward bending CT (BFB-CT) in simulated surgical position for evaluating the remaining real angle and flexibility of thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to old osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Methods A total of 28 patients with thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to old osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture who met the selection criteria between June 2018 and December 2021 were included in the study. There were 6 males and 22 females with an average age of 69.5 years (range, 56-92 years). The injured vertebra were located at T10-L2, including 11 cases of single thoracic fracture, 11 cases of single lumbar fracture, and 6 cases of multiple thoracolumbar fractures. The disease duration ranged from 3 weeks to 36 months, with a median of 5 months. All patients received examinations of BFB-CT and standing lateral full-spine X-ray (SLFSX). The thoracic kyphosis (TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), local kyphosis of injured vertebra (LKIV), lumbar lordosis (LL), and the sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured. Referring to the calculation method of scoliosis flexibility, the kyphosis flexibility of thoracic, thoracolumbar, and injured vertebra were calculated respectively. The sagittal parameters measured by the two methods were compared, and the correlation of the parameters measured by the two methods was analyzed by Pearson correlation. Results Except LL (P>0.05), TK, TLK, LKIV, and SVA measured by BFB-CT were significantly lower than those measured by SLFSX (P<0.05). The flexibilities of thoracic, thoracolumbar, and injured vertebra were 34.1%±18.8%, 36.2%±13.8%, and 39.3%±18.6%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the sagittal parameters measured by the two methods were positively correlated (P<0.001), and the correlation coefficients of TK, TLK, LKIV, and SVA were 0.900, 0.730, 0.700, and 0.680, respectively. Conclusion Thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to old osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture shows an excellent flexibility and BFB-CT in simulated surgical position can obtain the remaining real angle which need to be corrected surgically.