Dorsal correction of rigid posttraumatic deformities of thoracic spine in spinal cord injury

Abstract

Aim: the analysis of the outcomes of dorsal remedial operation in patients with rigid posttraumatic deformities in thoracic spine accompanied by spinal cord injury. Material and Methods. We analyzed surgical outcomes of transpe-dicular anchorage of 28 patients aged 34.5±19.5 with rigid posttraumatic deformities of thoracic spine: 12 patients with acute injury (1st group), 16 patients with long-term deformities (2nd group). The results were estimated by the severity of neurological deficit, pain intensity,the grade of deformity correction as well as by the LQ indexes. All interventions were performed from lateral medial approach with transpedicular anchorage. Results. There were no changes of neurological deficit in both patient groups, however we managed to obtain sufficient spine deformity correction. Pain intensity in patients of 1st group was 6 (5.3-7.8), function — 46.5 (42.5-49.8); 12 months postsurgically pain intensity corresponded to the score of 0 (0.0-0.1); function — 82 (79.0-86.0). The intensity of pain syndrome was significantly reduced in 2nd group patients (VAS reduced from 6 (4.0-7.0) to 1 (0.0-2.0), which in turn allowed for earliest rehabilitation of patients in sedentary position, thus increasing their mobility and functional independence (FIM increased from 70 (65.0-76.0) to 92 (89.0-95.0). Conclusion. Single-step dorsal surgical interventions in patients with rigid deformities of thoracic spine allow restoring normal spinal column axis, performing reconstruction of spinal cord column and safely stabilize injured locomotor segments both in acute and in late periods of spinal cord injury.

Keywords

• dorsal correction
• rigid posttraumatic deformities
• spine
• spine and spinal cord injury
• thoracic spine