[The USS (Universal Spine System) in the treatment of thoraco-lumbar spine fractures].

The paper present the results of surgical treatment of 15 patients (11 males and 4 females--average age 35.3 years) with thoraco-lumbar spine fractures. Pre-op neurological disorders were found in 4 patients with narrowing of the spinal canal, including 1 case of paraplegia. The decrease of vertebrae height was on average 45%. All patients underwent surgical treatment with transpedicular fixation by means of USS (Universal Spine System). In 7 patients 4 vertebrae were instrumented, the rest of the patients had only 3 vertebrae instrumented. In this latter case arthrodesis was not performed. Post-op, the neurological symptoms receded completely in 3 patients and partially in the case with paraplegia. In 76% of the cases vertebra height was restored completely. Patients were allowed to stand on the 3-4 day post-op. Follow-up was 22 months, and the neurological status of the patients was stabile. No decrease in vertebra height was noticed.