[Thoracolumbar fractures treated with Moss Miami system and anterior distraction device]

To review our experience in treating thoracolumbar fractures with Moss Miami System and vertebra anterior distraction device(ADD).

Twenty-eight patients with thoracolumbar fractures admitted in the Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery (Unfallkrankenhause, Berlin, Germany) were treated by posterior fixation with Moss Miami system and anterior decompression, followed by autologous bone grafting and ADD stabilizing implant.

Death occurred in none of the cases and no patients exhibited signs of neurologic damages both intraoperatively and postoperatively, with the only exception that disruption of the dura mater of the spinal cord occurred in 1 case intraoperatively. Follow-up study lasting for a mean period of 11.8 months was conducted in all the cases, which found that the position of Moss Miami system and implanted ADD remained unchanged in 24 cases, in comparison with their position as shown by postoperative imaging data. In 3 cases, however, ADD was inlaid in the vertebral body, with an angle correction loss of which was less than 5 degrees. Lateral obliquity and displacement of ADD was found in 1 case. Of the 5 incomplete paraplegic patients, 3 achieved complete habilitation of neurologic function and 2 had partial improvement.

Moss Miami system and ADD constitute good modalities in treating thoracolumbar fractures, with such merits as thorough decompression of the spinal canal, reliable fixation to allow early force loading with less correction loss of the angle, and are therefore suitable for treating unstable thoracolumbal fractures.