Management of Post Traumatic Kyphotic Deformity in Thoracolumbar Spine: Conservative versus Operative Treatment

Local post traumatic kyphosis may impair spinal sagittal balance and result in seven disability and programmed neurological deficit. In operative group the mean±SD fracture kyphosis was 34.21±3.7 at the time of admission and mean±SD kyphosis was 17.64±3.20 at the time of final follow up. In conservative group the mean±SD kyphosis was 32.96±4.06 at the time of admission and mean±SD kyphosis was 40.28±4.72 at the time of final follow up. It is interesting to note that in conservative group kyphosis increased (7.3) during final follow up but decreased (16.57) in operative group during final follow up due to spinal instrumentation and post-lateral fusion. Local post traumatic kyphosis may impair spinal sagittal balance and result in severe disability and progressive neurological deficit. Objective of the study is to find out the better option in the management of post traumatic kyphotic deformity in thoracolumbar Spain injury. The quasi-experimental study was carried out at the National Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2006 to December 2008. A total number of 40 patients with post traumatic thoracolumbar spine injuries with kyphotic deformity selected purposively. Out of 40 cases 1 patient missed from final follow up. Rest of 39 patients was included in this study. All patients were admitted within 3 weeks of injury. Most were referred from peripheral hospital & some were admitted in emergency and outpatient department of NITOR. Among those 25 patients were conservatively treated and 14 were operatively treated. In operative group the mean±SD fracture kyphosis was 34.21±3.7 at the time of admission and mean±SD kyphosis was 17.64±3.20 at the time of final follow up. In conservative group the mean±SD kyphosis was 32.96±4.06 at the time of admission and mean±SD kyphosis was 40.28±4.72 at the time of final follow up. It is to note that in conservative group kyphosis increased (7.3) during final follow up but decreased (16.57) in operative group during final follow up due to spinal instrumentation and post-lateral fusion.