Long-term follow-up results in patients with thoracolumbar unstable burst fracture treated with temporary posterior instrumentation without fusion and implant removal surgery: Follow-up results for at least 10 years

Segmental fusion is not necessarily needed in treatment of thoracolumbar unstable burst fracture requiring surgery. Our objective was to report the results of follow-up for at least 10 years in patients with thoracolumbar unstable burst fracture requiring surgery in which fractured segment was healed following temporary posterior instrumentation without fusion, and in whom implants were subsequently removed. Retrospective Cohort Study. Nineteen patients in whom union of fractured vertebra was observed following surgery and in whom implants were removed within an average 12.2 months, and who could be followed up for at least 10 years, were enrolled. At the last follow-up, we evaluated the segmental motions, anterior body height ratio, progress of further kyphotic deformity, Oswestry Disability Index, Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire and Short Form 36. Results: The follow-up period after implant removal surgery was 151 months on average. The local kyphotic angle was 26.89 ± 6.08 degrees at the time of injury and 10.11 ± 2.22 degrees at the last follow-up. The anterior body height ratio was 0.54 ± 0.16 at the time of injury and 0.89 ± 0.05 at the last follow-up. Thus, the fractured vertebra was significantly reduced after surgery and maintained till last follow-up. The segmental motion was 9.84 ± 3.03, Oswestry Disability Index was 7.95 ± 7.38, Rolland Morris Disability Questionnaire was 2.17 ± 2.67, short form 36 Physical Component Score was 77.50 ± 16.61, and short form 36 Mental Component Score was 79.21 ± 13.32 at last follow-up. We conducted at least 10-year follow-up and found that temporary posterior instrumentation without fusion should be considered one of the useful alternative treatments for thoracolumbar unstable burst fracture in place of the traditional posterior instrumentation and fusion.