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PLATE-SCREW COMBINATION İN THE FIXATION OF UNSTABLE VERTEBRAL FRACTURES: (MID TERM RESULTS)

  • Gürsel LEBLEBİCİOĞLU
  • Ahmet ALANAY
  • A.Mümtgz ALPASLAN
  • M.Nejat TOKGÖZOĞLU
  • A.Mazhar TOKGÖZOGLU

J Turk Spinal Surg 1994;5(1):36-40

Thirteen patients (10 male and 3 female) with thoracal, lumbar or thoracolumbal fractures that were treated with St. George plate and pedicle screw combination were studied at mid term follow-up. The average age at time of surgery vvas 29 years, and average follow-up was 63 months. VVhile 7 of the patients had complete neurological function loss (Frankel A), 2 patients had full neurologic function (Frankel E). The other 4 patients had incompiete neurologic lesions (Frankel B(1), Frankel D. (3)). The losses of vertebral height, degree of ky-photic deformity and translation were measured on the preoperative, postoperative and the last follow-up plain radiographs. The mean preoperative angle of deformity vvas 22', the displacement percentage vvas 21% and the height losş vvas 40%. The immediate postoperative angle of deformity vvas 0', the ranslation vvas 0% and the height loss vvas 0%. At the last follow-up the mean angle of deformity vvas 4' and the mean height loss follovving the operation vvas 8%. The spinal canal and placement of the implants vvere evaluated vvith comput-ed tomography. at the last follovv-up, neurologic status of the 3 patients vvith complete neurologic function loss (Frankel A) and two patients vvith intact cord function (Frankel E) remained unchanged. Three of the re-maining 4 patients vvith complete neurologic function loss improved from A to B, and one improved dramatical-ly from A to D. Of the three patients with incompiete cord or cauda equina lesions, one improved from B to C and the rest three improved to E. There vvere no pseudoarthroses or implant failure. With its strength the plate sere w combination established the normal contours of the fractured spine. Plate-screvv combination is a cheap and effective method in the stabilisation of the spinal column after fractures.

Keywords: Vertebral fractures, Plate-screvv.