Asymmetric Posterior Thoracolumbar Fixation following a Posterolateral Transpedicular Approach for Unilateral Vertebral Disease

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent asymmetrical posterior screw fixation for the treatment of unilateral posterior vertebral pathological entities. The study included 21 patients with a spinal tumor who underwent asymmetrical posterior spinal fusion surgery between April 2009 and March 2012. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score visual analog scale (VAS) score were used as the outcome measure at admission and follow-up. Among the 21 patients, 12 were male and 9 were female, and mean age was 50.71 (range, 24–78) years. Mean follow-up was 16.04 (range, 4–47) months. Postoperatively, neurological findings did not deteriorate in any of the patients. Among the ASIA grade C and D patients, eight (38%) of them exhibited clinical stability or recovery to ASIA E, whereas none of the ASIA B patients scores changed postoperatively. Perioperative complications were noted in six patients (28%). Spinal stability and fusion were achieved in 18 (85%) patients. The surgical asymmetrical fixation technique described reduced the duration of surgery, and the patients required less dissection of paraspinal muscles than bilateral symmetrical fixation. Asymmetrical fixation provides good stabilization for unilateral thoracolumbar vertebral pathological entities, and facilitates rapid rehabilitation of such patients, who are often elderly with comorbidities.