Abstract
Study design This is a prospective observational study.
Purpose The aim of this study was to determine whether
the combination of thoracoscopically assisted corpectomy
with posterior percutaneous transpedicular instrumentation
in prone position achieves treatment goals in burst thoracic
or thoracolumbar fractures and minimizes the associated
morbidities.
Methods Between December 2007 and December 2008,
26 patients with acute burst spinal fractures were operated
upon in our hospital. Those patients underwent posterior
percutaneous stabilization plus anterior thoracoscopically
assisted corpectomy and fusion in prone position. Clinical
and radiological outcomes of these patients were evaluated
after a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. The Oswestry
Disability Index (ODI) combined with clinical
examination was used for clinical evaluation. Plain X-ray
in two views was used for the radiological evaluation.
Results The mean operative time was 248 min. The
average blood loss was 765 ml. Ten patients had preoperative
neurological deficits ranging from Frankel A to D.
One patient did not show any neurological improvement at
the final follow-up. The mean ODI at final follow-up was
about 7. The mean preoperative kyphosis angle was 25.58,
improved to 9.2 postoperatively and to 13.8 at the final
follow-up. No cases of implant failure were reported at the
final follow-up.
Conclusions Minimal invasive spinal techniques including
thoracoscopic decompression and fusion and short
segment posterior percutaneous instrumentation showed
good clinical outcomes and can be considered as alternative
to open procedures with decreased rates of morbidities