The Effect of Ligamentotaxis on Clinical and Radiological Outcomes in Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures with High...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ligamentotaxis performed in combination with the posterior surgical approach in thoracic and lumbar burst fractures due to high-energy trauma with high McCormack scores (≥7). This observational study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences from January 2015 to December 2020. Medical records of 16 patients were retrospectively evaluated. The vertebral height measurements, local kyphosis angles, and anteroposterior spinal canal diameter were measured pre- and postoperatively. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), McCormack, and thoracolumbar injury classification and severity (TLICS) scores were also evaluated. All postoperative measurements showed a significant change. There was no statistical significance in the pre- and postoperative ASIA grades. No screw breakages were observed within a mean follow-up period of 35.50±11.79 months. Ligamentotaxis effectively increased the spinal canal diameter and provided vertebral height restoration and kyphosis angle correction in thoracolumbar burst fractures with a high McCormack score. However, no significant neurological improvement was observed in cases with neurological deficits, although laminectomy was performed with ligamentotaxis. Key Words: Ligamentotaxis, Lumbar vertebrae, Spine, Thoracic vertebrae, Thoracolumbar burst fractures, Trauma.