• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.227-236
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the clinical results of the thoracolumbar fracture patients treated with oriental medical methods. Methods : We reviewed 40 patients of thoracolumbar fracture, who were hospitalized at WonKwang University KwangJu Oriental Medical Hospital and treated by oriental medical methods. We classified thoracolumbar fracture according to three column theory and then analyzed the cause of injury, sex-age distribution, treatment, and etc.. Results : 1. The distribution showed female predominance(72.5%) in sex and 70age-bracket predominance in age. 2. In the distribution of causes, the largest group was "lifting heavy objects"(40%) and the next was "slip down"(37.5%). 3. In the duration of symptoms, the largest group was the group of "acutest" (40%). 4. The distribution of injured level was L1 body the most(20%). 5. In classification of fracture, "compression fracture" was the most(57.5%) and the next was "burst fracture", "unstable fracture" in order. 7. Therapeutic effects above "fair" were 37 cases(92.5%). 8. The higher grade of clinical symptoms is, the lower therapeutic effect is. 9. In the distribution of treatment results according to classification of fracture, both the compression fracture and the burst fracture were almost same high and the unstable fracture is relatively lower than them. Conclusions : The result to treating thoracolumbar fracture by oriental medical methods is satisfactory.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.283-290
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• 2018

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Korean medicine treatments on pain reduction of thoracolumbar compression fracture patients. We analysed 48 patients who have been diagnosed as thoracolumbar compression fracture on Computed Tomography(CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) scan and had admitted to Dunsan Korean Medical hospital from January 1,2014 to April 4, 2017. The analysis was conducted as retrospective study which analyzes patient's medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS statistics 24 program. We used Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and pain reduction scale to evaluate pain reduction of patients. The result showed that there were statistically significant pain reduction on thoracolumbar compression fracture patients treated with korean medicine treatments. In conclusion, we found that the korean medicine treatments showed positive effect on pain reduction of thoracolumbar compression fracture patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2009

Objectives : This Study was to investigate the tendency of inpatient with Thoracolumbar Compression Fracture. Also we investigated effectiveness of Pharmacopuncture and Warming Acupuncture on Thoracolumbar Compression Fracture. Methods : We investigated 48 cases of patients with thoracolumbar compression fracture. We distributed inpatint with age, sex, number of injured vertebra, level of injured vertebra, admission duration, grade of clinical symptom, result of treatment and applied treatments. And we calculated statistically signification with this data. Results : 1. Female is prominent in distribution of sex, the average age bracket is 70's, and the largest group was accidental fall in the distribution of causes. 2. In regard to level of injury, T12 was found to be most prominent, followed in turn by L2, L1, T12. In regard to grade of clinical symptoms, Grade III was most Prominent, followed in turn by Grade IV, Grade II. In regard to grade of result of treatment, Good was most prominent. 3. There was not statistically significantly correlation about admission duration and result of treatment with number of injured vertebra, grade of clinical symptom, applied treatments. Conclusions : Most inpatients with thoracolumbar compression fracture was cured by oriental medicine treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.944-949
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• 2021

Objective : The stability is an important factor to decide the treatment plan in thoracolumbar burst fracture patients. Patients with an unstable burst fracture generally need operative management. Decrease in vertebral body height, local kyphosis, involvement of posterior column, and/or canal compromise are considered important factors to determine the treatment plan. On the other hand, in thoracolumbar injury classification system (TLICS), surgery is recommended in patients with TLICS of more than 5 points. The purpose of this study was to apply the TLICS score in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and to distinguish the differences of treatment plan on burst fracture. Methods : All patients, diagnosed as a thoracolumbar burst fracture between January 2006 and February 2019 were included in this study. Unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture was defined as burst fracture with neurologic deficit, three-column injury, kyphosis over 30 degrees, decrease of anterior body height over 40 percent and canal comprise more than 50%. TLICS score was measured with morphology, neurological involvement and posterior ligamentous complex integrity. The existence of instability was compared with TLICS score. Results : Total 233 patients (131 men, 102 women) were included in this study. In Denis classification, 51 patients (21.9%) diagnosed as stable burst fracture while 182 patients (78.1%) had unstable burst fracture. According to TLICS, 72 patients (30.9%) scored less than 4, while 161 patients (69.1%) scored 4 or more. All the patients with stable burst fracture scored 2 in TLICS. Twenty-one patients (9.0) scored 2 in TLICS but diagnosed as unstable burst fracture. Thirteen patients had over 40% of vertebra body compression, four patients had more than 50% of canal compromise, three patients had both body compression over 40% and kyphosis over 30 degrees, one patients had both body compression and canal compromise. Fifteen patients presented kyphosis over 30 degrees, and three (20%) of them scored 2 in TLICS. Seventy-three patients presented vertebral body compression over 40% and 17 (23.3%) of them scored 2 in TLICS. Fifty-three patients presented spinal canal compromise more than 50%, and five (9.4%) of them scored 2 in TLICS. Conclusion : Although the instability of thoracolumbar burst fracture was regarded as a critical factor for operability, therapeutic strategies by TLICS do not exactly match with the concept of instability. According to the concept of TLICS, it should be reconsidered whether the unstable burst fracture truly unstable to do operation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 2015

Traumatic diaphragm hernia can occur in rare cases and generally accompanies thoracic or abdominal injuries. When suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, a small force can develop into vertebral fracture and an adjacent structural injury, and lead to diaphragm hernia without accompanying concomitant thoracoabdominal injury. A high level of suspicion may be a most reliable diagnostic tool in the detection of a diaphragm injury, and we need to keep in mind a possibility in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis and a thoracolumbar fracture, even in the case of minor trauma.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.29-39
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• 2008

Methods : We investigated 28 cases of patients with thoracolumbar compression fracture. We divided patients into two groups : We treated one group with complex oriental medical treatment focusing on Bee Venom Acupuncture therapy, and did the other group with complex oriental medical treatment focusing on acupuncture therapy. To investigate the effectiveness of treatment applied for two groups, we used Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Oswestry Low-back Pain Disability Index(ODI). We compared the VAS score and ODI score of two groups statistically. Results : 1. Female is prominent in distribution of sex, the average age bracket is 70's, and the largest group was Faccidental fall in the distribution of cause. 2. In regard to level of injury, T12 was found to be most prominent, followed in turn by L1, L2. In regard to grade of clinical symptoms, Grade III was most prominent, followed by Grade IV, Grade II. 3. As a result of evaluation by using VAS score and ODI score, treatment score at final was significantly different from that at the baseline in each group. 4. After treatment, Bee Venom acupuncture therapy group showed significant difference on VAS score and ODI score compared with acupuncture therapy group. Conclusions : Bee Venom acupuncture therapy can be available for relieving symptoms related with thoracolumbar compression fracture.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical results of anterior and posterior stabilization by one stage posterolateral approach for the unstable fracture of thoracolumbar and lumbar spine. Methods : By posterolateral approach with curved skin incision, unilateral facet and pedicle were removed. Through this route, corpectomy was performed, and then this space was replaced with mesh cage filled up with autologous bone graft. Both side pedicle screw fixation was followed to upper and lower levels. Results : Six of seven patients of this study showed neurological improvement. The other one patient showed no neurological change. One patient had postoperative infection, another patient had postoperative kyphosis. The other patient had epidural hematoma on operation site after surgery. And all patinets on this study made to have spinal stability except one patient happened postoperative kyphosis. Conclusion : In the unstable fracture of thoracolumbar and lumbar spine, one stage anterior and posterior stabilization and fusion by posterolateral approach seems to be an effective procedure, if we have more care and supplementation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2011

Objective : This study aimed to show the possibility of neural canal enlargement and restoration of bony fragments through laminectomy and minimal facetectomy without pediculectomy or an anterior approach, and also to prove the adequacy of posterior stabilization of vertebral deformities after thoracolumbar bursting fracture. Methods : From January 2003 to June 2009, we experienced 45 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. All patients enrolled were presented with either a neural canal compromise of more than 40% with a Benzel-Larson Grade of VI, or more than 30% compromise with less than a Benzel-Larson Grade of V. Most important characteristic of our surgical procedure was repositioning retropulsed bone fragments using custom-designed instruments via laminectomy and minimal facetectomy without removing the fractured bone fragments. Beneath the dural sac, these custom-designed instruments could push the retropulsed bone fragments within the neural canal after the decompression and bone fragment repositioning. Results : The mean kyphotic deformities measured preoperatively and at follow-up within 12 months were 17.7 degrees (${\pm}6.4$ degrees) and 9.6 degrees (${\pm}5.2$ degrees), respectively. The mean midsagittal diameter improved from 8.8 mm (${\pm}2.8$ mm) before surgery to 14.2 mm (${\pm}1.6$ mm) at follow-up. The mean traumatic vertebral body height before surgery was 41.3% (${\pm}12.6%$). At follow-up assessment within 12 months, this score showed a statistically significant increase to 68.3% (${\pm}12.8%$). Neurological improvement occurred in all patients. Conclusion : Though controversy exists in the treatment of severe thoracolumbar burst fracture, we achieved effective radiological and clinical results in the cases of burst fractures causing severe canal compromise and spinal deformity by using this novel custom-designed instruments, via posterior approach alone.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.142-147
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• 2014

Objective : A thoracolumbar burst fracture is usually unstable and can cause neurological deficits and angular deformity. Patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture usually need surgery for decompression of the spinal canal, correction of the angular deformity, and stabilization of the spinal column. We compared two struts, titanium mesh cages (TMCs) and expandable cages. Methods : 33 patients, who underwent anterior thoracolumbar reconstruction using either TMCs (n=16) or expandable cages (n=17) between June 2000 and September 2011 were included in this study. Clinical outcome was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale and Low Back Outcome Score (LBOS) for functional neurological evaluation. The Cobb angle, body height of the fractured vertebra, the operation time and amount of intra-operative bleeding were measured in both groups. Results : In the expandable cage group, operation time and amount of intraoperative blood loss were lower than that in the TMC group. The mean VAS scores and LBOS in both groups were improved, but no significant difference. Cobb angle was corrected higher than that in expandable cage group from postoperative to the last follow-up. The change in Cobb angles between preoperative, postoperative, and the last follow-up did not show any significant difference. There was no difference in the subsidence of anterior body height between both groups. Conclusion : There was no significant difference in the change in Cobb angles with an inter-group comparison, the expandable cage group showed better results in loss of kyphosis correction, operation time, and amount of intraoperative blood loss.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2018

Fractures at the thoracolumbar region are commonly followed after major traumatic injuries, and up to 20% of these fractures are known to be burst fractures. Making surgical decisions for these patients are of great interest however there is no golden standard so far. Since the introduction of Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS) score in 2007, it has been widely used as a referential guideline for making surgical decisions in thoracolumbar fractures. However, there is still limitations in this system. In this clinical case report, we introduce a L1 burst fracture after motor vehicle injury, who was successfully treated conservatively even while she was graded as a TLICS 5 injury. A case report is presented as well as discussion on the limitations of this grading system.