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Nonoperative treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures offers less pain, better functionality
Data from a recently published study showed patients with a stable burst thoracolumbar fracture reported less pain and had better function than surgically treated patients at long-term follow-up.
Between 1992 and 1998, researchers evaluated and randomly assigned 47 patients with stable thoracolumbar burst fractures to a treatment group (consisting of posterior or anterior arthrodesis) or a nonoperative treatment group (involving use of a body cast or orthosis). Of the original patient cohorts, 19 patients from the operative group and 18 patients from the nonoperative group were available for long-term follow-up analysis at an average of years.
The researchers found the average kyphosis for each group at follow up was not statistically significantly different (13° for operative treatment vs. 19° for nonoperative). However, nonoperatively treated patients had statistically significant better scores for pain (1.5 cm vs. 4 cm), Oswestry Disability Index (2 vs. 20) and Roland Morris (1 vs. 7). – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: Wood has no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.