Percutaneous Uniplanar Pedicle Screw-Rod System with Injured Vertebra Fixation for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture and Technique Notes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous uniplanar pedicle screw (PUPS) combined with injured vertebra fixation for treating thoracolumbar burst fracture and provide technique notes.

STUDY DESIGN

A descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, China, from February 2019 to December 2021.

METHODOLOGY

Patients who had undergone PUPS internal fixation for thoracolumbar burst fracture were followed up for more than 12 months in the General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, China. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay were recorded. Visual analysis scale (VAS), score of low back pain, ODI (oswestry disability endex), anterior vertebral height (AVH), Cobb angle were documented before and after the operation, Also, the complications and postoperative tail shank angles (TSA) were documented.

RESULTS

All 23 patients were followed up for more than 12 months without re-fracture, loosening or breakage of the screw and rod. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay were 51.34±8.30 minutes, 75.67±16.55 minutes, and 9.86±1.96 days respectively. VAS and ODI scores after the operation were significantly lower than before (p <0.05). The AVH and Cobb angle after operation were significantly better as compared with those before the operation (p <0.05), but no statistically significant difference was found in those two values at 1 week, 3 months, and 12 months after operation (p >0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in TSA after the operation (p >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

PUPS combined with injured vertebra fixation reveals satisfactory efficacy for thoracolumbar burst fracture with well reduction of the fracture, the AVH, and Cobb angle maintenance.

KEY WORDS

Percutaneous uniplanar pedicle screw, Minimally invasive surgery, Thoracolumbar vertebral body fracture, Injured vertebra fixation.