Lumbar fractures involving five vertebrae: a case report
Prithee Jettoo1, Himanshu Sharma, John R Andrews
1Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Prithee.Jettoo@nhs.net
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery (Hong Kong)
|December 21, 2011
Summary
A 20-year-old man with lumbar fractures from a road traffic accident healed well with non-operative treatment. Later corrective surgery for post-traumatic kyphosis also resulted in a good functional outcome, preserving spinal mobility.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- High-energy trauma, such as road traffic accidents, can cause severe spinal injuries.
- Lumbar fractures involving multiple vertebrae require careful management to optimize healing and functional outcomes.
Observation:
- A 20-year-old male patient sustained fractures in 5 lumbar vertebrae after a road traffic accident.
- Initial non-operative management was chosen to facilitate healing of multiple vertebral pedicles.
Findings:
- The patient developed post-traumatic kyphosis, necessitating corrective osteotomy and posterior spinal instrumented fusion.
- Despite the complexity, the patient achieved a good functional outcome following surgical intervention.
Implications:
- Thorough radiological assessment is crucial for high-energy spinal trauma.
- Non-operative treatment can be a viable option for complex lumbar fractures, potentially preserving spinal mobility.
- Delayed surgical correction for post-traumatic kyphosis is feasible and can yield positive results.
