Nonsurgical treatment of thoracic and lumbar fractures.

The treatment of thoracolumbar trauma remains controversial. As more and more data are collected, there appears to be information that substantiates both surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Orthopaedic surgeons must all be cognizant of the fact that we draw our conclusions from data and not subjective prejudicial opinions. Nonsurgical treatment is still a viable and effective treatment for thoracic and lumbar fractures and should be part of the armamentarium available to all practitioners involved in the treatment of these patients.