[Fractures of the spine]

The standard treatment for stable fractures of the spine is functional. Owing to the improvement of surgical methods and special implants, the percentage of operatively treated spine fractures has increased from 10% to 20%. In contrast to the necessity for multisegmental fixation with the rod instruments used formerly, the recently developed implants (plates, fixators) allow stable, brief, and therefore functionally more favourable immobilization.