Functional and Surgical Outcomes of Corpectomy in Patients with Unstable Spinal Fractures

Unstable fractures of the spine should be managed surgically. An anterior approach allows for precise decompression of the vertebral canal and reconstruction of the fractured vertebral body. The aim of the study was to evaluate the functional and surgical outcomes of anterior surgical approaches for vertebral body removal and prosthetic reconstruction.

The objectives of this paper were accomplished by reviewing the course of treatment and treatment outcomes of patients operated on at the Orthopaedic Oncology Department in Brzozw and the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in District Hospital in Stalowa Wola in the years 2020-2021. In total, the treatment of 54 patients was analyzed. The study only included patients with traumatic and pathological fractures who underwent a single-level corpectomy. A total of 18 patients with fractures of the cervical spine, 15 of the thoracic spine and 21 of lumbar spine were treated. Before and after treatment, patients' neurological status was assessed according to the Frankel classification, performance was assessed with the Karnofsky score and pain intensity was analyzed with a VAS. The vertebral wedge angle (alpha), the ratio of the anterior height of the fractured vertebral body to the anterior height of the upper adjacent vertebral body (a/c), the ratio of the anterior height to the posterior height of the fractured vertebra (a/b) and the distance between the vertebral endplates adjacent to the fractured vertebra, measured between their anterior edges (A-B) were assessed. The most common general medical and surgical complications were also evaluated.

After the surgery, significant pain relief measured using a VAS was noted (the median was 7 preoperatively and 4 postoperatively) and an improvement in performance according to the Karnofsky score was observed (the median was 50 preoperatively and 70 postoperatively). Out of the 14 patients with neurologic deficits 11 improved, while 5 regained the ability to walk. In four patients, the implant migrated into an adjacent vertebra and three patients suffered a fracture of the upper adjacent vertebra. The correction of the spine deteriorated in all 7 patients. There was no postoperative neurological deterioration of patients and no infectious complications. During the surgery, three patients suffered dura mater injury, which was identified intraoperatively and repaired.

1. Corpectomy followed by vertebral body replacement is an effective and safe method that enables the restoration of the shape of the vertebra, restoration of the physciological spinal curvature and direct neural decompression. 2. The treatment outcomes are good. Pain significantly decreases and performance improves in most patients. 3. Treatment complications are rare. The most often observed complication was migration of the implant into an adjacent vertebral endplate, fractures above the place of fixation and dura mater injury.