Remodeling of the spinal canal after thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Thirty-one patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures, seven untreated, 16 treated nonoperatively, and eight treated operatively, were analyzed retrospectively and followed up for 3 to 7 years. The initial and final degrees of neurologic deficit and the stenotic ratio of the spinal canal were recorded. Stenotic ratio significantly decreased from the first examination (range, 12.3%-74.5%; average, 26.2%) to the final followup (range, 5.4%-46.5%; average, 19.2%), but there were no differences of the percentage of remodeling between patients who were untreated and those treated nonoperatively and operatively. The recovery rate was highly significantly related to the stenotic ratio at first examination. Nonoperative management may be considered for treatment of patients who are neurologically intact or only slightly impaired with thoracolumbar burst fractures.