Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation and thoracolumbar spine XXXX : a review of 55 cases.

@entity1 @entity174 @entity3814 @entity281 @entity293 @entity130 @entity1516
A series of 55 @entity1 treated with posterior Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation and osteosynthesis for unstable thoracolumbar spine @entity174 were reviewed. Follow-up averaged 48.3 months. The @entity174 were all unstable, with 27 classified as @entity174 ( @entity174 ) and 28 classified as flexion compression injuries or unstable @entity174 (FC/B). The study population was composed of 29 @entity1 and 26 @entity1 with an average age of 31 (range 20-45) years. Mechanisms of injuries included 35 motor vehicle accidents, 19 falls, and one blunt @entity130 . No case worsened as a result of surgery, and 31% of the cases improved an average of 0.5 Frankel grade (range 0-2). Sixty percent of @entity1 were braced with a custom molded thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) fitted after surgical stabilization. Minor complications occurred in 45% of the cases ( @entity293 most common). There was a singular deep wound @entity281 and another iliac crest donor site @entity281 . There were no instrument failures or @entity1516 . Radiographic analysis showed the following improvements in @entity3814 , and @entity174 . The pattern of radiographic improvement in the @entity174 and FC/B subgroups showed significant improvement in each parameter when comparing preoperative to immediate postoperative values. Of importance, the radiographic findings comparing 1 month to the final follow-up showed little to no deterioration. Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation proved to be a highly effective device for immediate restabilization of unstable thoracolumbar injuries.
