Beyond Cement: A Case Report of Cadaveric Allograft and Vertebral Body Stenting for a Traumatic Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture

A 48-year-old woman sustained an L1 burst fracture (AO Spine A4, N0, M1) after a 4-meter fall. Imaging demonstrated >50% vertebral height loss, posterior wall retropulsion, and regional kyphosis without neurologic deficit. She underwent posterior segment pedicle screw fixation (T12-L2) with vertebral body stenting, an intravertebral graft scaffold filled with morselized cadaveric cancellous allograft. She mobilized within 48 hours, remained asymptomatic at 12 months, and follow-up CT demonstrated maintained alignment and consolidation.

This case highlights operative considerations when using intravertebral stents in a young adult trauma patient, using cancellous allograft with posterior fixation for immediate stability.