to investigate the clinical efficacy of decompression and pedicle screw fixation through posterior approach for complete thoracic spine fracture dislocation.

The clinical data of six patients with complete thoracic spine fracture and dislocation treated from September 2002 to June 2016 were analyzed retrospectively by case series study. There were five males and one female, aged 21-67 years old (mean, 47.2 years). The injury segments were T_3~4 dislocation in one case, T_5~6 dislocation in two cases, T_6~7 dislocation in two cases and T_8~9 dislocation in one case. There was one case of ASIA grade E and five cases of Grade A, and all of six cases were associated with multiple rib fractures and hemopneumothorax. The companied status was one case of sternal fracture, one case of atlantoaxial complex fractures and three cases of pulmonary contusion. The posterior median incision decompression and pedicle screw system fixation were performed, and the intervertebral bone grafting was conducted after restoration. The surgery time, bleeding volume during surgery, fracture restoration, bone grafting fusion, failure of internal fixation and other complications were recorded. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification were used to assess the pain and neurological function improvement between the preoperative visit and final follow-up visit.

The surgery time was 150-240 minutes (mean, 205 minutes). The bleeding volume during the surgery was 700-2 100 ml (mean, 1167 ml). One case was died of pulmonary infection at one week after surgery, the others were followed up for 3-14 months (mean, 7.4 months). After operation, five patients were satisfied with the reduction, and the lateral displacement was partially restored in one cases. Five cases of intervertebral bone grafting all had bone fusion. There was no fixation failure. The VAS was (7.4±0.6)points before surgery, (4.5±1.6)points at one week after surgery and (1.8±0.3)points at final visit of follow-up, which had significant difference from the preoperative status (P< 0.05). One case of ASIA grade E had no postoperative aggravation and four cases of grade A had no improvement.

Posterior decompression and pedicle screw fixation system is optimal choice of treatment for complete thoracic fractures and dislocations for it can attain reduction of fracture and dislocation as well as bone fusion, provide stability for spine and relieve pain.

Spine fractures; Thoracic vertebrae; Fracture fixation, internal