Surgical results of posterior fixation combined with PPS and open PS・Hook for thoracolumbar burst fractures aged 75 years or older

Abstract

We examined the short-term results of 5 cases with fixation of thoracolumbar burst fracture in patients >75 years old. PPS was placed above two vertebrae and open PS was combined with sublaminar hook at one caudal vertebrae. The average operative time was 106 minutes, the average bleeding volume was 66 mls and the average fixation number was 3.2. These were significantly lower than for conventional open fixation performed in our hospital. Postoperative improvements in average VAS were observed for lower back pain, lower extremity pain, numbness, the average score for each item in JOABPEQ, and the average score for ROMDQ. However, only the average VAS for lower back pain was significantly improved. The local kyphosis angle averaged 15.8° before surgery and 11.8° immediately after surgery, but increased to 19.4° at the final examination. Post-operative ADL improved in 4 cases with a cane or independent walking, and in one case with a walker.