Thoracolumbar burst fractures: CT dimensions of the spinal canal relative to postsurgical improvement
Cross-sectional spinal canal area was measured before and after surgery in 12 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and canal narrowing caused by retropulsed fragments. Patients were classified into Denis type A or type B. Denis type A fractures have comminution of both end-plate of the vertebral body creating multiple smaller fractures; Denis type B fractures have comminution of the superior end-plate only with a single vertical fracture line into the inferior end-plate creating larger fragments. The degree of neurologic impairment was assessed before and after surgery using the Frankel system. There was no correlation between degree of canal narrowing and degree of neurologic impairment. All patients with Denis type A fractures had near-anatomic reduction of fragments out of the spinal canal by surgery; less than half of the patients with Denis type B had good reduction. There was no correlation between reduction of retropulsed fragments and subsequent neurologic improvement. However, this should not preclude surgery as a therapeutic option.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Washington, Seattle
- OSTI ID:
- 5178282
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-860416-; TRN: 85-023777
- Journal Information:
- AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States), Vol. 145:2; Conference: ARRS meeting, Washington, DC, USA, 14 Apr 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Spinal and Paraspinal Ewing Tumors
Thoracolumbar spine injuries associated with vertical plunges: reappraisal with computed tomography