Spine
-
Subchondral mineralization of adjacent and transfixed facet joints was analyzed in patients with thoracolumbar spinal injuries, both before posterior instrumentation and after removal of the spinal implant. ⋯ Decrease in subchondral mineralization indicates reduced load acting on the examined zygapophysial joints. This finding in patients with early follow-up CT seems to be caused by reduced activity in most of the patients until removal of the spinal implant. In patients with longer intervals between removal of the fixator and second CT, higher loads acting on the adjacent and bridged joints are shown morphologically. Whether or not these changes lead to spondylarthritis has to be studied in a long-term follow-up.