[Fractures of the lower spine - results following conservative treatment]

The results of 157 fractures of the lower spine treated either after the method of Boehler or of Magnus are reported. Both treatments controlled 6 to 16 years after the initial trauma showed practically identical results which correlate with those of other authors. Nearly 50% of the patients are complaining about residual troubles. Capacity of work is reached earlier by functional treatment after Magnus. We found that by reposition of the depressed vertebra a good radiological result can be preserved in a certain amount of cases (i.e. 16%), which has been contested by many authors. We concluded therefore that in cases of heavily depressed vertebral fractures especially with Gibbus formation the anatomical realignment of the vertebral column should be tried.