Is It Necessary to Reduce Thoracolumbar Compression Fractures with Intermediate Screws in the Fractured Vertebra?
Abstract PurposeTo compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous short-segment pedicle screws fixation (PPSF) with or without intermediate screws (IS) for the treatment of thoracolumbar compression fractures.MethodsFrom January 2016 to March 2019, a retrospective study of 38 patients with thoracolumbar compression fractures conducted. The patients were divided into a 4-screw group (without IS) and a 6-screw group (with IS) according to whether pedicle screws were placed in the fractured vertebrae. Combined positional reduction effects with the technique of pre-contoured lordotic rods were used to reduce the fracture by lengthening the anterior column of the fractured vertebrae. The posterior structure of the fractured vertebrae was undertaken as the fulcrum point for both groups. The operation time, intra-operative blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS), anterior vertebral body height (AVBH), segment kyphosis(SK)before and after operation and complications were recorded.ResultsAlthough the operation time and blood loss in the 6-screw group were higher than in the 4-screw group, difference was not significant (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS, AVBH and SK between the two groups (P>0.05). Nevertheless, these results were significant differences between the preoperative and the immediate postoperative, between preoperative and follow-up groups (P < 0.001). No neurologic injury was observed in either groups. ConclusionsIn the treatment of thoracolumbar compression fractures, percutaneous short-segment pedicle screws fixation without intermediate screws in the 4-screw construct may obtain the same clinical effect as that in the 6-screw construct.