Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2010 , Vol 20 , Num 1
Surgical Treatmant of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: A Retrospective Evaluation of 35 Cases
Ahmet DAĞTEKİN1, Aslıhan KÖSEOĞLU2, Engin KARA3, Mutlu ALIMLI4, Emel AVCI5, Celal BAĞDATOĞLU6
1,2,4,5,6Mersin Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Mersin, Türkiye
3Mersin Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Mersin, Türkiye
AIM: The goals of surgical treatment of traumatic burst fractures include decompression of the spinal canal, restoration of spinal stability, prevention of kyphotic deformity development and early ambulation and rehabilitation of the patient.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Thirty-five patients were reviewed who had been treated surgically in Neurosurgery Departments of 70th Year State Hospital and Mersin University Faculty of Medicine between January 2002 and January 2009. There were 18 females and 17 males with the average age of 40.8 (17-69) years. Causes of fractures are falls (19 patients) and motor vehicle accidents (16 patients). Fractures were frequently seen at the thoracolumbar spine. Patients were treated with anterior approach (3 patients), anterior-posterior approach (1 patient) and posterior approach (31 patients).

RESULTS: Incorrect introduction of screws was found in 1 patient. Postoperative superficial wound infection that has been developed in one patient was treated with debridement, closure, and antibiotic therapy. Insufficient fusion was thought in three patients in whom changes were noticed in kyphiosis degree, disc space and instrumentation with postoperative radiological assessment.

CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that spine fusion with instrumentation can improve function in patients who had been performed surgical treatment with a relatively low complication rate and a high rate of fusion after surgery. Anahtar Kelimeler : Burst fracture, Thoracolumbar region, Stabilization, Fusion