[Anatomical restoration of thoracolumbar spine with burst fracture]

A burst fracture was created in the L1 vertebra of six fresh human cadaver spines and reduction was performed using AO fixator intern, reduction fixation (RF) device, and Steffee plate instrumentation systems to determine the reduction force (distraction vs distraction plus lordosis) contributing to the anatomical restoration of thoracolumbar spine. These three pedicular screw devices were applied to the specimens following the use of standard clinical technique for each device. The AO fixator intern and the RF device provided independent control of distraction and lordosis correction. The Steffee device maintained a set distraction and lordosis. The RF device provided pre-set fixed incremental lordosis, while the AO provided variable angular correction. Plain X-rays and CT scans were taken of the specimens before and after creation of the fracture and following application of each device. Results demonstrated that the symmetric lordotic distraction of the disc space and vertebral body provided by the RF device achieved the best possible reduction of the intracanal fragment and sagittal alignment.