Evaluation of radiologic outcome of dorsolumbar unstable burst fractures treated by C.D system

Burst fractures account nearly 15% of spine injuries most frequently seen in dorsolumbar region. Instability is one major factor that cause spinal cord injury or deformity and worsen prognosis, thus it is important in burst fractures to determine instability because this can leads us in proper selection of treatment and forecasting prognosis. Proper treatment in unstable burst fractures is surgery (Open redaction and instrumentation) to change it to stable spine. The aim of this study was evaluation of the radiographic outcome in the surgery of unstable burst fractures. From 2002 –2005, 500 patients with unstable burst fractures in Shahid kamiab hospital were studied.14 patients were female (28%) and 36 patients were male(72 %). mean age was 34.76 years (14 to 63 years). mean follow up was 2.56 years (1.2 - 4 years). most common site of fracture was L1 (25 cases 50 %) mean time from admission to surgery was 12.31(2 to 33 days).mean anterior height of vertebra before surgery was 2 0. 53 + 4.5 mm and after surgery 32.65 + 4.3 mm (mean correction 34 %). mean posterior height of vertebra before surgery was 31.5 + 3.75 mm and after surgery 33.25 + 4.6 mm (mean correction15 %).Mean angulation of vertebra before surgery was 20. 52 + 4.5 mm and after surgery 32.65 + 4.3 mm (mean correction 48 %). D.V.T in 5 cases (16 %), rod or screw breakage in 2 cases (4%) Infection in l case (2 %) was seen. in 48 cases CD system was used for instrumentation and in 2 cases distraction Harrington system was used. All cases had fusion after 1 year. In unstable burst fracture of vertebra in dorsolumbar region, surgical treatment using indirect reduction and instrumentation plus bone grafting results in stability of spine and fusion.