Effect of subsequent vertebral body fractures on the outcome after posterior stabilization of unstable geriatric fractures of the thoracolumbar spine

• Published in: BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2022-12, Vol.23 (1), p.1064-1064, Article 1064
• Main Authors: Spiegl, U J, Jarvers, J-S, Osterhoff, G, Kobbe, P, Hölbing, P-L, Schnake, K J, Heyde, C-E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged patients; Care and treatment; Energy; Female; Fracture Fixation, Internal - adverse effects; Fractures; Gender; Geriatrics; Humans; Kyphosis - surgery; Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Lumbar Vertebrae - injuries; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; Magnetic resonance imaging; Musculoskeletal diseases; Osteoporosis; Osteoporotic vertebral body fractures; Pain; Pain - etiology; Patient outcomes; Patients; Posterior stabilization; Reduction loss; Retrospective Studies; Risk factors; Spinal Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Spinal Fractures - epidemiology; Spinal Fractures - etiology; Spine; Subsequent fractures; Thoracic Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Thoracic Vertebrae - injuries; Thoracic Vertebrae - surgery; Thoracolumbar spine; Trauma; Trauma mechanism; Treatment Outcome; Vertebrae; Vertebral Body
• ISSN: 1471-2474; 1471-2474
• DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-06031-z

The purpose of this study was analyzing the effect of subsequent vertebral body fractures on the clinical outcome in geriatric patients with thoracolumbar fractures treated operatively. Retrospectively, all patients aged ≥ 60 with a fracture of the thoracolumbar spine included. Further inclusion parameters were acute and unstable fractures that were treated by posterior stabilization with a low to moderate loss of reduction of less than 10°. The minimal follow-up period was 18 months. Demographic data including the trauma mechanism, ASA score, and the treatment strategy were recorded. The following outcome parameters were analyzed: the ODI score, pain level, satisfaction level, SF 36 score as well as the radiologic outcome parameters. Altogether, 73 patients were included (mean age: 72 years; 45 women). The majority of fractures consisted of incomplete or complete burst fractures (OF 3 + 4). The mean follow-up period was 46.6 months. Fourteen patients suffered from subsequent vertebral body fractures (19.2%). No trauma was recordable in 5 out of 6 patients; 42.8% of patients experienced a low-energy trauma (significant association: p