European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Clinical Trial
Nonoperative treatment of burst-type thoracolumbar vertebra fractures: clinical and radiological results of 29 patients.
The treatment of neurologically intact patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures is still controversial. This study was designed to evaluate the role of nonoperative treatment for 29 neurologically intact patients with two- or three-column-injured thoracolumbar burst fractures. Neurologically intact patients with types A, B and C burst fractures were treated conservatively and divided into groups GI and GII, according to their column involvement, with two and three injured columns, respectively. ⋯ None of the patients had neurological deterioration. Most of the functional results were satisfactory. As a result, it was concluded that nonoperative treatment could be an alternative method for neurologically intact two- and three-column-injured Denis-types A, B and C thoracolumbar burst fractures.