Radiographic assessment of Harrington rod instrumentation for spinal fractures

The surgical procedure for Harrington stabilization of spinal fractures is described. A retrospective review was carried out on 36 patients who underwent Harrington instrumentation for spinal trauma. The group comprised 21 burst fractures, 11 fracture-dislocations and four wedge-compression fractures. Satisfactory reduction was achieved in 13 patients, unsatisfactory reduction in 19 patients, and no reduction in four patients. Loss of reduction later occurred in seven of the patients with satisfactory initial reduction. Further loss of reduction also developed in nine patients in the remaining group without satisfactory reduction initially. Radiographically demonstrable causes for loss of reduction included technical errors allowing slippage of the hooks, improper placement of the hooks, and laminar fractures.