Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture: Correlation between Kyphosis and Function after Surgical Treatment

OBJECTIVE To assess the correlation between post-traumatic kyphosis in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures undergoing surgical treatment and the functional result from treatment. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on 27 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures according to Denis and A3 to Margerl's classification who met the inclusion criteria for this sample and underwent surgical treatment with a minimum follow-up of six months. The patients' mean age was 46.96, with a range from 16 to 73 years. The treatment outcome was evaluated based on applying the short-form 36 (SF-36) quality of life questionnaire, Denis pain and work scale and visual pain scale. The kyphosis was measured according to the Cobb method at the end of the follow-up. RESULTS The residual kyphosis was found not to correlate with the SF-36, Denis pain and work scale or visual pain score (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION There is no correlation between the final clinical result and residual kyphosis in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures who undergo surgical treatment.