[Diagnostics and therapy of fractures and fracture-dislocations of the vertebral column (author's transl)].

Vertebral fractures with incomplete paraplegia should be reduced immediately. If the myelogram still shows compression of the medulla, an anterior decompression should be performed. All severe injuries to the cervical spine are stabilised with anterior bone block and plate osteosynthesis. Generally fractures of the lumbar spine are treated conservatively with reduction and plaster jacket. Operative treatment is necessary in dislocations with locked facets, secondary instability, and in cases with traumatic spondylolisthesis. Reduction and stabilisation can be performed either by interbody fusion or posterior fusion.