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THt LATE RESULTS OF VERTEBRAL FRACTURES TREATED BY AO SPİNAL INTERNAL FIXATOR

  • T. YAZAR
  • H. KINIK

J Turk Spinal Surg 1992;3(4):141-143

İn ourclinic since May 1989, we have been treating some of unstable thoracolumbar fractures with AO Spinal Internal Fixator. We have treated 74 patients with Fixator Interne since then. Fourtynine of them were male and 25 vvere female. Their average age is 38.2 -changing betvveen 16 and 75. We have performed posterior fusion for 28 patients among them. The follow-up period is betvveen 1 month and 48 months (Mean: 31 months). We have asked the patients to come for reexamination on the postoperative 1.5, 3, 6 and 12th months respectively. We have performed physical, neurological and radiological examination at each visit.

İn the late follow-up, we obtained that most of the patients have loss of correction in varying degrees (Mean: 12.09 degrees -Ranging betvveen 2 and24 degrees-). We classify the patients vvith their follovv-up periods. The average loss of correction in 0-11 months, 12-23 months, 24-35 months and 36 and more months are 9.64, 12.15, 12.75, 15.60 degrees respectively. We couldn't see a clinical difference betvveen the groups vvith or vvithout posterior fusion (12.17 degrees loss of correction in patients vvith-out posterior fusion and 11.62 degrees vvith posterior fusion). İn thes study we vvil discuss and try to find out the causes of these results.

Keywords: Internal Fixator, Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures, Posterior Instrumentation