Anterior stabilization of thoracolumbar injuries.

A new implant system has been designed to rigidly fix the spine anteriorly at a single level above and below the injury site for treatment of severe thoracolumbar fractures. The primary system consists of two rods rigidly linked by vertebral body bridges. These bridges are secured to each vertebra at two points: one posterolaterally on the body with a vertebral body screw and the other more anterolaterally with a vertebral body staple. This implant system has been used in 48 consecutive thoracolumbar injuries. There have been three late failures to attain spine fusion, but in no patient has there been loss of vertebral column alignment or spinal canal decompression. There have been no major catastrophes with the system. There have been one deep- and two superficial-wound infections, all of which have been successfully treated and resolved.