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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery
Published on: August 17, 2022
Imaging diagnosis of thoracolumbar burst fractures
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092. lydai@etang.com
Objective:
To review imaging use in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar burst fractures and to determine the diagnostic value of different imaging methods.
Methods:
One hundred and fourteen patients with 120 thoracolumbar burst fractures were retrospectively reviewed. Plain radiographs were available in all cases; CT scans and MRI were obtained in 96 and 74 cases, respectively.
Results:
A total of 27 burst fractures were misdiagnosed as other types of fractures on radiographs alone, and accounted for 22.5% of all fractures. The results indicated that plain radiographs often fail to delineate the pathological features of thoracolumbar burst fractures, leading to delay in diagnosis.
Conclusion:
In regard to thoracolumbar injury diagnosis, burst fractures should be differentiated from compression fractures. CT should be routinely indicated and MRI examination, when necessary, may be simultaneously considered.
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