The late-term results in our patients operated for lumbar spine fractures

Abstract

Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the late-term results of patients operated for lumbar spine fractures in our clinic. Material and Method: 134 patients from January 2012 to January 2020 were treated with “short-segment pedicle instrumentation” for lumbar fractures in our neurosurgery department. Patients with a burst fracture of a single lumbar vertebra were included. The final sample consisted of 67 patients who were followed up over the years with radiographs before and after surgery and CT scans at the final follow-up. Results: The results showed that 60% of the patients were rated as Denis P1, 35% as P2, and 5% as P3. Screw breakage was observed in seven patients, and 67 patients underwent revision surgery. Furthermore, the fractured vertebral body’s height was improved at the final follow-up stage, and an increase was witnessed from the preoperative figure of 16.4 mm to 25.8 at the final follow-up. At the final follow-up, the average Cobb angle was -11.6° preoperatively, and 6.3° after the operation and the correction loss was 12.1° which was severe in the middle part of the vertebra. By the final follow-up, disc spaces were narrowed below and above the fractured vertebra, and no correlation was found between clinical outcomes and adjacent disc degeneration. Conclusion: We concluded that short-segment pedicle instrumentation produced satisfactory long-term results for lumbar fractures. To achieve adequate outcomes, correct management of complications and evaluation of various factors must be focused on.