New trends in surgical stabilization of thoraco-lumbar spinal fractures with emphasis for sublaminar wiring.

Sixteen patients with unstable thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures and fracture-dislocations were treated surgically by contoured Harrington instrumentation and spinal fusion. Instrumentation was supplemented by sublaminar wires above and below the level of injury. Complications occurred in ten patients. All had solid fusion at follow-up. No loss of reduction occurred. Fourteen patients had a Fewett hyperextension brace post-operatively, and two had no immobilization.