Novel Combination of Harrington and Pedicular Screw Fixation in Traumatic Fracture-dislocation of Thoracic Spine: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background and Importance: Fracture-dislocation of the thoracic or lumbar spine (traumatic spondyloptosis) occurs in less than 5% of all spinal injuries mainly affecting the ventral direction. Case Presentation: A paraplegic young man was admitted to Shahid Kamyab Hospital in Mashhad City, Iran due to a motor vehicle accident. Computerized tomography (CT) showed a complete posterior dislocation of the T10 vertebral body on T9, with the superior articular processes of T9 bilaterally locked in the inferior endplate of T10 and complete fractures of the posterior elements. Conclusion: The spinal dislocation was re-aligned by a combination of Harrington fixation and pedicular screws leading to spinal fusion. Six months after surgery, the patient was still paraplegic but the sensory symptoms in the lower extremities and clean intermittent catheterization improved.

Keywords

• complete fracture-dislocation
• decompression
• neurological deficit
• harrington spinal fixation