[Comprehensive classification and surgical treatment of injury of the thoracolumbar spine].

Based on the theory of three-column of spine and in combination with the findings on CT scannings, particularly the status of the spinal canal, of 47 patients sustained trauma of thoracolumbar spine, a comprehensive classification has been proposed and described in the paper. 26 patients out of the 47, who had had signs of neurological damage and spinal instability, were operated upon and their spines were stabilized with Harrington-Luque instrumentation. 14 of the patients treated operatively enjoyed, at the time of follow-up, the satisfactory result. We have been convinced that this comprehensive classification serves as a very good guidance in selection the procedure of treatment, operation or conservatism, and in predicting prognosis.