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TRANSPEDICULAR FIXATION İN THE BURST FRACTURES OF THE THORACOLUMBAR JUNCTION: THE EFFICACY OF TIMING OF THE SURGERY

  • Muharrem YAZICI
  • Birol GÜLMAN
  • Koksal TİLKİ

J Turk Spinal Surg 1994;5(1):20-22

Study Design:

İn this study, the efficacy of timing of the surgery in the burst fractures of the thoraco-lumbar junction which were surgically treated betvveen May 1993 - May 1994 with short segment fixation using transpedicular screvvs were evaluated.

Method:

The patients were divided into two groups according to time eiapsed betvveen injury and opera-tion. Cases operated vvithin the first 24 hours were taken as early surgery group (n = 5) and cases operated later than 24 hours after the injury were considered as the late surgery group (n = 6). The efficacy of treat-ment was assessed by evaluation of the sagittal index (SI) restoration and reduction of the canal compro-mise.

Result:

The pre- and post-operative values for SI and canal narrovving for both groups are presented in the tabie:

Conclusion:

There is stili controversy concerning the relation betvveen canal narrovving and neurologic deficit, and the effect, if any, of decompression on neural recovery. Nevertheiess, if the main aim of the sur-gical procedure is to restore the sagittal index and decompress the neural canal, then anterior approach should be preferred to transpedicular fixation in cases to be operated later than 24 hours.

Keywords: transpedicular fixation, Burst fractures, thoracolumbar junction, tiing of surgery.