Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen
-
Thirty-eight patients with 40 fractures of the thoracic spine and the thoracolumbar junction were treated by a minimally invasive procedure, which includes partial corporectomy, the interposition of a tricortical bone graft and anterior stabilization by plate spondylodesis under thoracoscopic control. For 36 patients the operation was successfully performed in a complete thoracoscopic way; in 2 patients conversion to an open technique was necessary. ⋯ Our experience with this minimally invasive stabilizing procedure for injuries of the thoracic spine and the thoracolumbar junction demonstrated the feasibility of the method. Compared to the open method the benefit of minimally invasive surgery included postoperative pain reduction, shorter hospitalization, early recovery of function and reduced morbidity of the operative approach.