48 patients with unstable thoracolumbar fractures treated with pedicle screw-ptate and pedicle screw-rod combi-nations, during the period between September 1987 and May 1993 were evaluated retrospectively. The mean age at admission was 34 years. There were 33 male, 15 female patients. This group of patients was divided into two separate groups depending on the spinal fixation systems used. The first group, treated with pedicle screw-spinai plate combination consisted of 13 patients and the second group, treated with pedicle screw-rod combination con-sisted of 35 patients. The two groups were compared on clinical and radioiogical basis. İn pedicle screw-rod combination Dick, IQL, Alıcı, Isola, TSRH systems were used. Burst fractures, flexion-distraction and translational injuries were the type of the trauma. There were not any significant difference in the post-operative course and in the func-tional results, but significantly more spinal segments had to be fused in the pedicle screw-spinal plate group. We suggest that pedicle screw-spinal plate combination offers a satisfactory and relatively cheap alternative to pedicle screvv rod combination.
Keywords: Thoracolumbar Fractures, Pedicular Fixation