[Controlled orthopedic reduction of spinal fractures]

The authors estimation is that malunions are poorly tolerated at the spine level. Therefore they advocate a systematic reduction of fractures at any level of the spine after a review of 100 cases. They describe the closed procedure they used in 63 cases for obtaining reduction without anesthesia, under radiologic and manometric control. Then, in 53 cases, a plaster cast was applied. In 10 other cases, closed reduction was completed by a surgical procedure, either by an anterior or a posterior approach. 15 fractures were surgically reduced and fixed, and 22 cases were treated by rehabilitation only without reduction. An original classification was set up for a precise description of the initial lesions, and the measurement of sequellae and final results.