Therapeutic effect of short fusion within two vertebrae using pedicle screws for thoraco-lumbar spinal injuries was investigated. The patients comprised 16 males and 6 females, aged from 17 to 65 years (mean age: 37 years). Types of injuries were burst fracture in 15 cases, dislocation fracture in 5 and seat belt fracture in 2. Rigid fixation was performed in 14 cases, and semi-rigid fixation in 8 cases. Reduction of bone fragment in the spinal canal was attempted by driving-in in 11 subjects and by lordotic-distraction in 3 subjects. Although dislocation was favorably reduced, kyphotic correction suffered loss of more than 10 degrees in half of all the patients. Bone fragment in the spinal canal was relatively well reduced, as revealed by CT. There was no evident relationship between kyphotic deformity and back pain. Since kyphotic deformity to some degree is clinically acceptable, short fusion using pedicle screws is considered useful.
