Laminar Fractures as a Severity Marker in Burst Fractures of the Thoracolumbar Spine

• Published in: Journal of orthopaedic surgery (Hong Kong) 2009-12, Vol.17 (3), p.261-264
• Main Authors: Tisot, Rodrigo A, Avanzi, Osmar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Lumbar Vertebrae - injuries; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; ROC Curve; Spinal Canal - pathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - etiology; Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology; Spinal Fractures - complications; Spinal Fractures - pathology; Spinal Stenosis - etiology; Spinal Stenosis - pathology; Spine; Standard deviation; Statistics, Nonparametric; Thoracic Vertebrae - injuries; Trauma
• ISSN: 1022-5536; 2309-4990
• DOI: 10.1177/230949900901700302

Purpose. To assess the correlation between the presence of lamina fractures, narrowing of the spinal canal, and the severity of injury. Methods. Records of 146 men and 44 women aged 13 to 84 (mean, 39) years diagnosed with burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine were retrospectively reviewed. The laminar fractures and narrowing of the spinal canal were measured using computed tomography. The severity of injury was determined using the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the New Injury Severity Score (NISS). The ISS and NISS of patients with and without laminar fractures were compared. The sensitivity and specificity of ISS, NISS, and narrowing of the spinal canal in association with laminar fractures were also compared. Results. 92 (48%) of the patients had laminar fractures. The mean narrowing of the spinal canal was more severe in patients with laminar fractures than those without (47% vs 28%, p