Short Segment vs Long Segment Fixation in Traumatic Dorsolumbar Spine Fractures

Short Segment Posterior Fixation With Index Level Screws Versus Long Segment Posterior Fixation for Thoracolumbar Spine Fracture: Angle of Correction and Pain

A prospective study included 91 patients, who had single level thoracolumbar fracture with Cobb's angle ≤ 25⁰, underwent posterior fixation. Forty four patients underwent short segment fixation with screws into the index level, and 47 patients underwent long segment fixation with skipped index level. The angle of correction, pain, and neurological state were regularly assessed

Inclusion Criteria:

• wedge fracture or burst fracture with Thoraco-Lumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS) score ≥ 4
• Single level fracture
• Less than 50% of spinal canal compromised
• Mild kyphosis or scoliosis
• Cobb's angle ≤ 25˚
• with or without neurological deficit

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with multiple level fractures
• patients with more than 50% spinal canal compromise
• patients who needed anterior approach to decompress the canal
• patients who have fracture dislocation and / or marked kyphosis and scoliosis with Cobb's angle >25⁰
• patients who needed 360⁰ fixation with long segment fixation to maintain the angle of correction.