To investigate the feasibility and short-term efficacy of endplate reduction percutaneous pedicle screw (ERPPS) technique combined with short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of AO type A3 thoracolumbar fractures.

A retrospective case control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 36 patients with type A3 thoracolumbar fractures without neurological symptoms and with comminuted endplates admitted to 903 Hospital of PLA from December 2015 to January 2018. Fifteen patients (Group A) were treated with ERPPS technique combined with short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, including 11 males and four females, aged (37.9±8.3)years. The injured segments were at T₁₁ in 1 patient, T₁₂ in 3, L₁ in 6, L₂ in 3 and L₃ in 2. Simple short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw reduction and internal fixation was performed in 21 patients (Group B), including 14 males and seven females, aged (37.3±9.5)years. The injured segments were at T₁₁ in two patients, T₁₂ in six, L₁ in seven, L₂ in four and L₃ in two patients. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding and complications were recorded. The anterior vertebral body height ratioin (AVBHr), middle vertebral body height ratio (MVBHr), posterior vertebral body height ratio (PVBHr), Cobb angle of kyphosis and wedge angle of injured vertebrae were calculated based on the measurement by X-ray films taken before operation, during operation (after regular reduction), 3 days after operation and 6 months after operation. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) were used to assess the pain and functional improvement.

All patients were followed up for 11-30 months [(19.1±5.0)months]. The operation time was (62.8±4.4)minutes in Group A and (60.1±4.7)minutes in Group B (P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss was (48.5±5.1)ml in Group A and (48.0±4.9)ml in Group B (P>0.05). All the incisions were healed by first intention without complications. The MVBHr of injured vertebra was (84.8±4.4)% in Group A and (68.1±8.8)% in Group B (P<0.05). The MVBHr 6 months after operation was (81.3±4.9)% in Group A, significantly better than that in Group B [(63.6±8.1)%] (P<0.05). At 6 months after surgery, the kyphosis Cobb angle [(11.3±3.2)°], the wedge angle [(10.5±2.1)°] of the injured vertebra and the VAS [(1.1±0.7)points] of Group A were significantly better than those of Group B [(13.4±2.3)°, (12.1±2.2)°and (1.9±1.1)points] (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in AVBHr, PVBHr and ODI between the two groups (P>0.05).

For type A3 thoracolumbar fractures with endplate comminuted injury and without neurological symptoms, the ERPPS technique can effectively reduce the collapse of the central part of the upper endplate and improve the clinical results (less reduction loss and back pain) after short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw reduction and internal fixation under the premise of strict indications.

Spinal fractures; Fracture fixation, internal; Pedicle screw