Surgical outcome in unstable thoracolumbar fracture in Chaophyaabhaibhubejhr hospital.

Abstract

Study Design : A prospective descriptive study

Objectives : To determine about pain, clinical and radiologic outcome after surgical treatment with pedicular screw fixation in unstable thoracolumbar fracture .Summary of background data : Unstable thoracolumbar fracture is a serious injury usually caused by high-energy trauma. The severity is not only restrict patient's activities due to pain, but also produce neurological deficit or paraplegia to patients. Unstable thoracolumbar fracture need surgically stabilization by decompression with fusion, usually with instrumentation for reduce in pain and subsequent spinal deformity.

Methods : The aim of this study is to determine about pain ,clinical and radiologic outcome in average 6 months after surgical treatment with pedicular screw fixation in 73 unstable thoracolumbar fracture cases. The study was performed and done surgically by Dr. Saksit jitkritsadakul at Chaophyaabhaibhubejhr hospital. The result of the study were evaluated by paired-sample t test analysis with 95 percent confidence interval.

Results : There are significant improvement in clinical, functional and radiographic imaging studies outcome ( P<0.05 )
  -  VAS ( visual analog scale) mean decreased from 10 to 2.47
 -  ODI scoring ( Oswestry disability index scoring) mean decrease from 98.24 to 24.93
 -  Frankel grade function mean increase from 3.12 to 4.34
 -  Mean of anterior vertebral body height increased from 52.99% to 77.67%
 -  Mean of kyphotic angle decreased from 20.84 to 5.34 degree

Conclusion : Surgically treated with pedicular screw fixation provided stability and anatomical restoration of the vertebrae . This method also significantly reduced in pain and improved the quality of life in unstable thoracolumbar fracture.