This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Early ambulation of thoracolumbar burst fractures without brace helped avoid costs, complications
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Treating patients with burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine with early ambulation and no brace can help avoid the cost and deconditioning associated with bracing while offering similar outcomes, according to researchers.
The researchers conducted a multicenter, randomized, nonblinded equivalence trial involving three Canadian tertiary spine centers from 2002 to 2011. Patients with AO-A3 burst fractures between T11 and L3, skeletal maturity and age older than 60 years who were within 72 hours from their injury, had a kyphotic deformity lower than 35° and no neurologic deficit were included in the study.
Patients were enrolled into one of two treatment groups — those treated with early ambulation and orthosis (TLSO) and those treated with no orthosis (NO). The study’s main outcome measure was Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score at 3 months post-injury.
Of the 46 patients available for the primary outcome at follow-up, the researchers found the RMDQ score at 3 months post-injury was 6.8 for the TLSO group and 7.7 in the NO group, with a 95% confidence interval within the predetermined margin of equivalence.
According to the researchers, no significant difference was seen between the two groups’ overall RMDQ scores at all follow-up time points. Additionally, no differences were found between the two groups for secondary outcomes such as VAS pain, SF-36 or satisfaction.
Average time to discharge from the hospital was 2.5 in the TLSO group and 2.6 in the NO group.
A total of six patients required surgical stabilization, of whom five required stabilization before initial discharge, according to the researchers.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts