Minimally invasive management of thoraco-lumbar fractures: Combined percutaneous fixation and balloon kyphoplasty

SummaryStudy designRetrospective review of prospectively collected data.BackgroundThere is no consensus regarding the ideal treatment of thoraco-lumbar spine fractures without neurological compromise. Many surgical techniques have been described but none has proved its definite superiority. The main drawback of these procedures is directly related to the morbidity of the approach. As minimally invasive fixation combined with balloon kyphoplasty for treatment of thoraco-lumbar fractures is gaining popularity, its efficacy has yet to be established.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to report operative data, clinical and radiological outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive management of thoraco-lumbar fracture at our institutions.MethodsForty-one patients underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty and stabilization for treatment of single-level fracture of the thoracic or lumbar spine. All patients were neurologically intact. There were 20 males and 21 females with an average age of 50 years.ResultsThe mean follow-up was 15 months (3–90 months). The mean operative time was 102minutes (range 35–240minutes) and the mean blood loss was <100mL. VAS was significantly improved from 6.7 to 0.7 at last follow-up. Vertebral kyphosis decreased by 16° to 7.8° postoperatively (P