Classification of post-traumatic deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the working classification of post-traumatic deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine taking into account the main characteristics of pathological condition of the injured spinal motion segments, spinal cord and roots, affecting the choice of tactics and techniques of surgical treatment. Material and Methods. The clinical material for the classification development included 124 patients with post-traumatic deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine operated on after 6 months to 14 years from the time of injury during 2003–2017. Results. The proposed working classification is based on the systematization of the three orthopedic features. It offers 120 variants of post- traumatic deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine, each designated by three symbols: a digit, a letter, a digit (for example, 4.B.1 or 2.E.3). An additional option is the four surgical risk gradation of neurological status denoted by the Latin letter N with a digit from 1 to 4. Conclusion. The classification clearly systematizes numerous variants of post-traumatic deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine based on the most clinically significant signs. Its application allows justifying the choice of a patient-specific tactical and technical option of surgical treatment.

Keywords

• spine
• post-traumatic deformities
• classification