The results of the surgical treatment of 64 patients with thoracic and lumbar fracture.
A total of 64 patients surgically treated for vertebral fractures were evaluated clinically and radiographically after a mean time of 49.55 months (from 1 to 124). There were 50 males and 14 females. Mean age at the time of surgery was 40.67 years (from 17 to 71). Fractures were divided based on the Denis classification system: comminuted fractures: 45; fractures caused by flexion-distraction: 2; fracture-dislocation: 17; 31 of the fractures were localized at the lumbar level, 30 in the dorsal region, 3 at the dorsolumbar passage. Neurologic evaluation was carried out on admission and at follow-up using the Frankel classification system: type A: 22; type B: 13; type C: 7; type D: 6; type E: 16. 56.25% of the patients (36 cases) were classified as having multiple trauma. Of the 64 patients, 38 had reduction and stabilization within 6 hours of trauma, 26 were treated after a mean time of 2.7 days (from 1 to 6). Harrington-Luque stabilization was carried out in 5 patients, using the Hartshill rectangle in 59. The mean time for hospitalization was 27.68 days (from 9 to 91). Follow-up showed neurologic recovery in all of the patients operated on, with the exclusion of those classified as Frankel A, without sacral sparing. Despite the residual kyphosis and the final anatomic findings which were not always satisfactory, the methods used allowed us to obtain results that could be compared to those obtained by other means of fixation and more complex techniques.