• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that have effects on the neurological deficit in the patients with thoracolumbar fracture. Methods : Forty-eight patients were included. Cause of injury, type of injury, time interval, combined injury, kyphotic angle, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, the most narrow transverse diameter, and remained height of vertebra body were concerned as the factors. The patients with American Spinal Injury Association[ASIA] impairment scale grade A to D were considered as having neurology while others with ASIA grade E were considered to be without neurology. The patients with ASIA grade A were classified to paraplegia group and the patients with ASIA grade B to E were not thought to be paraplegia. Statistical analysis for these groups were performed. Results : Spinal canal compromise [P<0.001] have correlation with neurological deficit. The most narrow sagittal diameter was smaller in the group with deficit than that in the group without deficit [P<0.004]. Also, combined injury have correlation with neurology [P=0.028]. Spinal canal compromise [P<0.001], sagittal diameter [P=0.032], the most narrow sagittal diameter [P=0.025], and Denis type [P<0.001] also have correlation with paraplegia. Conclusion : The factors of percentage of spinal canal compromise, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and combined injury are predictive of neurological deficit. The patients with paraplegia may be predicted by the factors such as type of injury, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and Denis type.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.230-236
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• 2014

Objective : The technique of short segment pedicle screw fixation (SSPSF) has been widely used for stabilization in thoracolumbar burst fractures (TLBFs), but some studies reported high rate of kyphosis recurrence or hardware failure. This study was to evaluate the results of SSPSF including fractured level and to find the risk factors concerned with the kyphosis recurrence in TLBFs. Methods : This study included 42 patients, including 25 males and 17 females, who underwent SSPSF for stabilization of TLBFs between January 2003 and December 2010. For radiologic assessments, Cobb angle (CA), vertebral wedge angle (VWA), vertebral body compression ratio (VBCR), and difference between VWA and Cobb angle (DbVC) were measured. The relationships between kyphosis recurrence and radiologic parameters or demographic features were investigated. Frankel classification and low back outcome score (LBOS) were used for assessment of clinical outcomes. Results : The mean follow-up period was 38.6 months. CA, VWA, and VBCR were improved after SSPSF, and these parameters were well maintained at the final follow-up with minimal degree of correction loss. Kyphosis recurrence showed a significant increase in patients with Denis burst type A, load-sharing classification (LSC) score >6 or DbVC >6 (p<0.05). There were no patients who worsened to clinical outcome, and there was no significant correlation between kyphosis recurrence and clinical outcome in this series. Conclusion : SSPSF including the fractured vertebra is an effective surgical method for restoration and maintenance of vertebral column stability in TLBFs. However, kyphosis recurrence was significantly associated with Denis burst type A fracture, LSC score >6, or DbVC >6.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2021

Purpose: Traumatic vertebral injuries have a prevalence of 4-5% at level I centers. Studies have demonstrated that isolated thoracolumbar transverse process fractures (iTPF) rarely require brace or surgical interventions. We hypothesized that similarly isolated thoracolumbar spinous process fractures (iSPF) would have less need for bracing and operative interventions than SPFs with associated vertebral body (VB) fractures (SPF+VB). We performed a similar analysis for iTPF compared to transverse process fractures associated with VB injury (TPF+VB). Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study from 2012 to 2016, patients were classified into iSPF, SPF+VB, iTPF, and TPF+VB groups. Data including the fracture pattern, neurologic deficits, and operative intervention were obtained. The primary outcome studied was the need for bracing and/or surgery. A statistical analysis was conducted. Results: Of 98 patients with spinous process fractures, 21 had iSPF and 77 had SPF+VB. No iSPF patients underwent surgery, whereas 24 (31.17%) SPF+VB patients did undergo surgery (p=0.012). In the iSPF group, three patients (15%) received braces only for comfort, whereas 37 (48.68%) of the SPF+VB group required bracing (p=0.058). Of 474 patients with transverse process fractures, 335 had iTPF and 139 had TPF+VB. No iTPF patients underwent surgery, whereas 28 (20.14%) TPF+VB patients did (p≤0.001). Of the iTPF patients, six (1.86%) were recommended to receive braces only for comfort, while 68 (50.75%) of the TPF+VB patients required bracing (p<0.001). Conclusions: No patients with iSPF or iTPF required surgical intervention, and bracing was recommended to patients in these groups for comfort only. It appears that these injures may be safely managed without interventions, calling into question the need for spine consultation.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.167-174
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• 2002

Stable compression fractures are most often caused by trauma as traffic accidents. Stable compression fractures can refer pain to the mid-back, which is characterized by the pain in the thoracolumbar spinous prosess. recently we experienced a 19 years old man who had lumbago originating from Stable compression fractures and condition was improved through burning acupunture.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.187-188
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• 2006

A 3-D finite element model of human thoracolumbar spine (T12-L2) was reconstructed from CT images. Various anterior and posterior instrumentation techniques were performed with long cage after corpectomy. Six loading cases were applied up to 10 Nm, espectively. The rotations of T12 with respect to L2 were measured and the stiffnesses were calculated as the applied forces divided by the segmental rotations. The posterior fixation technique increased the stiffness of the spine the most. The addition of anterior rod from 1 to 2 increased the stiffness significantly without posterior fixation, but no effect was found with posterior fixation. We found that different fixation techniques changed the stiffness of the spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2001

Objective : Percutaneous vertebroplasty has recently been introduced as an interesting therapeutic alternative for the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral body fractures in elderly persons with osteoporosis. The authors present the early results of this method. Method and Material : From July 1999 to April 2000, percutaneous transpedicular technique was used in 20 patients (2 men and 18 women) whose mean age was 67.5 years old(range 59-79) with painful vertebral compression(22) and burst(2) fractures. The interval between fracture and vertebroplasty ranged 1 day to 4 months. The procedure involved percutaneous puncture of the injured vertebra via transpedicular approach under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by injection of polymethylmetacrylate(PMMA) into the vertebral body through a disposable 11-guage Jamshidi needle. Result : The most common cause of fracture was slip down and the most frequent injured level was the twelfth thoracic spine. The procedure was technically successful bilaterally in 18 patients(9 thoracic and 15 lumbar spines) with an average injection amount of 7.7ml PMMA in each level. Seventeen(94.4%) patients reported significant pain relief immediately after treatment. Two leaks of PMMA were detected with postoperative CT in spinal epidural space and extravertebral soft tissue without clinical symptoms. Conclusion : Although this study represents the early results, percutaneous vertebroplasty seems to be valuable tool in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral body fractures in elderly, providing acute pain relief and early mobilization.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2005

Backgrounds: To evaluate the effectiveness of conservative treatment in osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar compression fractures and to identify the factors influencing the progression of compression. Materials and Methods: From January 2003 to October 2004, Patients who were admitted to our hospital for osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar compression fractures were reviewed retrospectively with follow-up more than 12 months (ave. 14.6 months). With simple x-ray lateral view, we evaluate wedge compression ratio (WCR) and kyphotic angle (KA) at initial and final follow-up. We separate the patients into two groups baesed on the amount of progression of vertebral compression and evaluate a relation with BMD, vertebral fracture level, initial WCR, initial KA. All datas were statistically analyzed. Results: An average of T-score was -3.5 and the changes of KA between initial and final follow-up were average $3.5^{\circ}$. Compression of anterior column were progressed to 8.5%. The changes between initial and final WCR in Group I (N=24) was 17.8%, and Group II (N=18) was 3.3%. T-score in group I was -3.4 and group II was -3.8 (p=0.228). vertebral fracture level were 10 T12, 12 L1, 2 L2 in group I; 6 T12, 6 L1, 6 L2 in group II (p=0.156). Initail WCR was 0.74 in group I, 0.63 in group II, and there was statistical difference between two groups(p=0002). Initial kyphotic angle was $13.9^{\circ}$in group I, $16.2^{\circ}$in group II repectively (p=0.392). Conclusion: The conservative treatment with short-term bed rest and early embulation is effective and valuable method to patients who have osteoporotic thoraco-lumbar compression fractures. There was no statistical difference between two groups according to BMD, vertebral fracture level, KA. But in comparison with initail WCR between two groups, there was statistical difference. That means, in the case of small initial compression of anterior column, the progression of compression was bigger than else. In these patients, more strict use of appropriate brace and careful follow-up should be needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns and the risk factors of newly developed vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). Methods : We performed a retrospective review of the 244 patients treated with PVP from September 2006 to February 2011. Among these patients, we selected 49 patients with newly developed VCFs following PVP as the new VCFs group, and the remaining 195 patients as the no VCFs group. The new VCFs group was further divided into 2 groups : an adjacent fractures group and a nonadjacent fractures group. The following data were collected from the groups : age, gender, body weight/height, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD) score of the spine and femur, level of initial fracture, restoration rate of anterior/middle vertebral height, and intradiscal cement leakage, volume of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Results : Age, gender, mean body height/weight, mean BMI and volume of PMMA of each of the group are not statistically significantly associated with fractures. In comparison between the new VCFs group and the no VCFs group, lower BMD, intradiscal cement leakage and anterior vertebral height restoration were the significant predictive factors of the fracture. In addition, new VCFs occurrence at the adjacent spines was statistically significant, when the initial fracture levels were confined to the thoracolumbar junction, among the subgroups of new VCFs. Conclusion : Lower spinal BMD, the greater anterior vertebral height restoration rate and intradiscal cement leakage were confirmed as risk factors for newly formed VCFs after PVP.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2014

Objective : Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory rheumatic disease mainly affecting the axial skeleton. The rigid spine may secondarily develop osteoporosis, further increasing the risk of spinal fracture. In this study, we reviewed fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis that had been clinically diagnosed to better define the mechanism of injury, associated neurological deficit, predisposing factors, and management strategies. Methods : Between January 2003 and December 2013, 12 patients with 13 fractures with neurological complications were treated. Neuroimaging evaluation was obtained in all patients by using plain radiography, CT scan, and MR imaging. The ASIA Impairment Scale was used in order to evaluate the neurologic status of the patients. Management was based on the presence or absence of spinal instability. Results : A total of 9 cervical and 4 thoracolumbar fractures were identified in a review of patients in whom ankylosing spondylitis had been diagnosed. Of these, 7 fractures were associated with a hyperextension mechanism. 10 cases resulted in a fracture by minor trauma. Posttraumatic neurological deficits were demonstrated in 11 cases and neurological improvement after surgery was observed in 5 of these cases. Conclusions : Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are highly susceptible to spinal fracture and spinal cord injury even after only mild trauma. Initial CT or MR imaging of the whole spine is recommended even if the patient's symptoms are mild. The patient should also have early surgical stabilization to correct spinal deformity and avoid worsening of the patient's neurological status.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2022

The most common cause of foot drop is lumbar degenerative disc herniation, particularly at L4/5. We present a rare case of spinal cord injury accompanied by a thoracolumbar lesion that presented with bilateral foot drop. A 69-year-old male patient presented with sudden-onset severe bilateral leg pain and bilateral foot drop. Radiologic findings revealed T12 spondylitis compressing the conus medullaris. He had undergone vertebroplasty for a T12 compression fracture after a fall 6 months before. A physical examination showed bilateral foot drop, paresthesia of both L5 dermatomes, increased deep tendon reflex, and a positive Babinski sign. An acute bilateral L5 root lesion and a conus medullaris lesion were suspected based on electromyography. A surgical procedure was done for decompression and reconstruction. After the operation, bilateral lower extremity muscle strength recovered to a good grade from the trace grade, and the patient could walk without a cane. The current case is a very rare report of bilateral foot drop associated with T12 infectious spondylitis after vertebroplasty. It is essential to keep in mind that lesions of the thoracolumbar junction can cause atypical neurological symptoms. Furthermore, understanding the conus medullaris and nerve root anatomy at the T12-L1 level will be helpful for treating patients with atypical neurological symptoms.