[Remodelling of the spinal canal after thoracolumbar burst fractures: significance of nonoperative management].

OBJECTIVES

To determine the phenomenon of remodelling of the spinal canal after thoracolumbar burst fracture and to investigate the efficacy of nonoperative management.

METHODS

A total of 31 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures, including 7 untreated, 16 treated nonoperatively, and 8 treated operatively, were retrospectively analysed and followed up for 3 to 7 year. The initial and final degrees of neurological deficit and stenotic ratio of the spinal canal were recorded.

RESULTS

The stenotic ratio significantly decreased (P < 0.01) from the discharge (range: 12.3% to 74.5%, average: 26.2%) to the final follow-up (range: 5.4% to 46.5%, average: 19.2%), but there were no differences (P > 0.05) of stenotic ratio improvement among the patients untreated, and treated nonoperatively and operatively, or among the patients with different degree of neurological deficit.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant remodelling of the spinal canal develops after thoracolumbar burst fractures. Nonoperative management may be taken into account for treatment of neurological intact patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures.