Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2025
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Treatment of Thoracolumbar Type A3 Fractures Using a Percutaneous Intravertebral Expandable Titanium Implant:
David C Noriega1, Jesus Crespo-Sanjuan2, Wayne J Olan3
1Unidad de Columna, Servicio Cirugía Ortopédica, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Spain.
Background:
There are controversies about the optimal management of AO subtype A3 burst fractures. The most common surgical treatment consists of posterior fixation with pedicle screw and rod augmentation. Nevertheless, a loss of correction in height restoration and kyphotic reduction has been observed.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess long-term outcomes of a minimally invasive technique using a percutaneous intravertebral expandable titanium implant (PIETI).
Study Design:
This prospective, single center, pilot study was carried out on a consecutive case series of 44 patients with acute (< 2 weeks) traumatic thoracolumbar fractures AO type A3. The average follow-up was 5.6 years.
Setting:
A single center in Castilla y Leon, SpainMETHODS: Clinical outcomes (pain intensity on visual analog scale [VAS], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], analgesic consumption) and radiographic outcomes (anterior/mid/posterior vertebral body height, vertebral area, local kyphosis angle, traumatic regional angulation) were analyzed before surgery, at one month after surgery, and at the end of the follow-up period.
Results:
At one-month postsurgery, significant improvements in VAS score and ODI score were observed. PIETI achieved significant vertebral body height restoration with median height increases of 2.9 mm/4.3 mm/2.3 mm for anterior/middle/posterior parts, respectively. Significant correction of the local kyphotic angle and improvement of the traumatic regional angulation were accomplished. All these improvements were maintained throughout the follow-up period. The only complication reported was a case of cement leakage.
Limitations:
In our opinion, the main limitation of the study is the small number of patients. However, the sample is superior to that shown in other papers.
Conclusions:
This study showed that using a PIETI in the treatment of fractures type A3 is a safe and effective method that allows marked clinical improvement, as well as anatomical vertebral body restoration. Unlike with other treatments, results were maintained over time, allowing a better long-term clinical and functional improvement. The rate of cement leakage was lower than other reports.
