The Iowa orthopaedic journal
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Fifteen patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar spine injuries were treated between November, 1993, and April, 1996, using a posterior approach that involved short segment distal fixation at or one level below the level of injury. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed for complications, maintenance of correction, repeat surgeries and functional status. Indications for this technique included fractures and ligamentous injuries that did not require direct canal decompression and were without severe comminution. ⋯ There were no mechanical complications at the distal end of the fixation. Three patients returned to relatively normal preinjury status, five suffered partial disability, six suffered full disability and one was lost to follow-up. From our review of this relatively small group of patients, short segment fixation distally for selected thoracolumbar and lumbar injuries appears to be a reasonable option.