[Primary management of fresh injuries of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae].

Results of conservative treatment of vertebral body fractures and of repositioning and internal fixation, are compared with those obtained by dorsoventral repositioning and fusion. The results achieved with patients treated by dorsoventral fusion were statistically significantly better than those obtained with the other two treatment methods. Consequently, we modified the treatment concept of thoracic and lumbar vertebral body fractures. Every vertebral disk showing irreversible damage is now resected and the mobility segment involved is fused. The fracture is treated conservatively only in case MR does not reveal any lesion of the vertebral disk, or it is stabilised only from the dorsal approach.