During the period between September 1987 and July 1992, thirty-two patient with thoracolumbar spine frac-tures treated with pedicle screw-plate fixation and with pedicle screwrod fixation were evaluated retrospectively.
The average age on admission vvas thirty-two years. There were twenty-two male and ten female patients in this group. These patients were evaluated separately, according to the instrumentation system used. The first group consisted of thirteen paient treated with pedicle screw-palet system and the second group consisted of nine-teen patients treated with pedicle screw-rod system were compared clinically and radiologically.
There were no significant differences in the post-operative rehabilitation programs and functional outcomes, but more spinal segments were fused in the first group. İt vvas concluded that pedicle screw-plate system might of-fer a good and cheap aiternative to pedicle screw-rod systems.