[Short segment peduncular fixation in the treatment of thoraco-lumbar fracture]

Thirty cases with unstable fracture of thoracolumbar spine were treated by a method of short segment peduncular fixation with a set of instrument newly designed. The mean values of the pre-operative Cobb's angles and anterior compression angles were 22.4 degrees and 23.1 degrees respectively, while post-operatively, they decreased to be 3.2 degrees and 6.3 degrees accordingly (P less than 0.01). CT scanning done on 16 patients with neurological deficit showed that the sagittal diameter of the fractured vertebrae, on average, was 7.5 mm before operation and was 12.7 mm post-operatively (P less than 0.01). It demonstrated that the fracture deformities i.e. kyphosis, lordosis, rotation, separation and compression had been corrected by procedures with this set of fixation system. Procedures of the operation with this set of instrument were discussed in detail.