Aim:

Traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures remain a challenge that have highly financial and social expenses. Burst spinal fractures are frequently related with neurologic deficit and in the young age group incidence of burst fractures is more frequent. We aimed to determine if the impaction of retropulsed fragments of burst fracture as a safe and effective method by the help of clinical and radiographic results.

Material and Method:

47 patients with thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score 4 or more, lumbar burst spinal fractures who underwent surgery in our clinic either posterior trans-pedicular stabilization and decompression with only ligamentotaxis (Group-1) (n= 28) or posterior trans-pedicular stabilization and decompression with ligamentotaxis and impaction of retropulsed fragments (Group-2) (n=19) were reviewed.

Results:

The mean difference between preoperation and postoperation measurement of the retropulsed fragment in the only ligamentotaxis group was 1,189 ± 0,882099 mm and for the group ligamentotaxis with impaction was 4,752 ± 2,851291 mm. There is a significant difference between the two groups (p˂0,05).

Conclusion:

We conclude that for suitable patients impaction of retropulsed fragments of burst fracture can have better spinal canal restoration and decompression of neuronal elements.

Keywords: Burst Fractures, Impaction, Ligamentotaxis