BACKGROUND The thoracolumbar region is where most fractures of the spine are located. Segmental kyphosis is an important factor for treatment decisions. There are various methods for measuring segmental kyphosis in thoracolumbar fractures. Our objective was to evaluate if the experience of the surgeon has any influence on kyphosis measurement by analyzing three different categories of orthopedi...

BACKGROUND The thoracolumbar junction is the most common area of injury to the axial skeleton. Forces along the long stiff kyphotic thoracic spine switch abruptly into the mobile lordotic lumbar spine at the thoracolumbar junction. Goals of treatment are to obtain a painless, balanced, stable spine with optimum neurological function and maximum spine mobility. The present prospective study has ...

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that all blunt trauma patients, presenting with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score of 15, without intoxication or neurological deficit, and no pain or tenderness on log-roll can have any thoracolumbar fracture excluded without imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients diagnosed with a thoracolumbar fracture presenting to the emerge...

AIM To determine whether the Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score (TLICS) and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) Spine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System have any superiority to each other regarding the reliability of their recommendations in the surgical management of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-five consecuti...

Metastatic disease commonly occurs in the spine and incidence is likely to increase secondary to improved survival rates in many cancer patients. Despite published research on instability in patients with metastatic disease of the thoracolumbar spine, controversy exists regarding risk factors for instability and indications for surgical stabilization. The objective of this systematic review was...

PURPOSE Vertebral compression fractures are the most common fractures in the elderly. Long lasting pain and deformity is responsible for consecutive impairment with markedly reduced life quality, increased morbidity and mortality. The beneficial effects of balloon kyphoplasty are verified in many studies. Subsequent fracture risk is not finally clarified, cement related risks and deformity rela...

INTRODUCTION Necessity of imaging for symptom-free conscious patients presented to emergency department (ED) following traumatic thoracolumbar spine injuries has been a matter of debate. The present study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of clinical findings in prediction of traumatic thoracolumbar injuries compared tocomputed tomography (CT) scan. METHODS The present diagnostic val...

During adolescence the spine undergoes rapid growth and changes in anatomy and biomechanical properties. Fractures of the adolescent spine are relatively uncommon but may give rise to serious problems. This review describes thoracolumbar fractures in adolescents with respect to epidemiology, anatomy, mechanisms of injury, clinical and radiologic assessment, and nonoperative and operative treatm...

K.K. Moeller S. Coventry S. Jernigan T.M. Moriarty SUMMARY: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a highly malignant central nervous system neoplasm usually seen in young children and infants. Prognosis for AT/RT is poor, with most patients dying within 1 year of presentation. AT/RT most commonly occurs intracranially. Location in the spine, though previously reported, is rare, and imagin...