Thoracic And Lumbar Burst Fracture: Correlation Between Structural Changes And Clinical Outcome Of Treatment

The treatment of burst fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine is still a subject of much discussion and debate in the literature, especially in patients without neurological deficit. Most authors recommend surgical treatment for patients whose fracture shows signs of instability: 50% loss of vertebral body height, kyphosis with more than 30 degrees, involvement of more than 50% of the spinal canal. The authors advocate that this type of treatment uses the shorter hospital stay, early patient mobility, better kyphosis correction, the possibility of spinal canal decompression and prevention of neurological deterioration, as arguments in its favor.However, observational studies in patients without neurological deficit, showed no difference in long-term functional outcomes in patients with this type of injury, regardless of the type of treatment used (surgical or conservative). This study will express the clinical results and morphological changes of the thoracic and lumbar spine, at a minimum follow-up of 24 months, comparing the findings of the patients undergoing surgical treatment with those found in undergoing conservative treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with thoracic or lumbar burst fracture, without neurological lesion treated by the principal investigator of the study and periodically monitored in the Service of the researcher, Orthopedic Hospital of Passo Fundo, with minimum follow-up of 24 months fracture.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with neurological deficit or who have left before 24 months the follow-up.