Parameters of Neurological Deficit After Thoracolumbar Fractures

Radiological Parameters Predicting Neurological Injury After Thoracolumbar Spinal Fractures

To detect Radiological parameters affecting neurological injury after thoracolumbar spinal fractures.

Thoracolumbar spine fractures are the most common spinal column fractures. High activity and lack of stability make it more prone to fractures.

Many studies have attempted to determine whether the neurological deficit in such fractures is related to spinal canal stenosis or other parameters observed on axial computed tomography (CT). However, this relationship remains controversial.

Few reports shed light on the relation between different imaging parameters like sagittal alignment, vertebral body compression, canal stenosis, and type of fracture according to AO classification with the severity of nerve damage.

These four radiographic parameters will be tested as expected risk factors for the neurological deficit in thoracolumbar fractures.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Any patient with Acute (within one month) thoracolumbar spine fracture above 18 years old with or without neurological deficit
2. In orthopaedics and trauma department of Assiut university hospital from 1st of November 2018 to 31 st of October 2019.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients younger than 18 years old.
• Patients suffering from preoperative neurological diseases that hinder our examination like peripheral neuropathy or previous strokes.
• Obtuned patients who cannot be properly examined like those with low GCS score.
• Patients with old thoracolumbar fractures more than one month duration.
• Patients with pathological spine fractures like those with osteoporosis and cancer metastasis.
• Patients with fracture type A0 according to AO classification.