@article{article_190334, title={Choice of treatment for the thoracolumbar burst fractures}, journal={Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica}, volume={33}, pages={295–304}, year={2006}, DOI={10.3944/aott.v33i4.2356}, author={Agus, Haluk and Kayali, Cemil and Pedukcoskun, Serdar}, abstract={The treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures is controversial since the criteria of stability for that fractures are not clear. In our prospective study we tried to determine the factors that affect the choice of treatment type by evaluating our functional and radiological results. Seventeen conservatively and seventeen surgically treated patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were averagely followed up for twenty six months prospectively. All the patients had injured anterior and middle columns but intact posterior column without any neurological deficit. The radiological and functional results of both groups were analyzed statistically with Mann Whitney U and paired Wilcoxon tests. At the end of follow up; the difference between the values of local kyphosis angle, sagittal index, anterior vertebral height, and posterior vertebral height before the treatment were not statistically significant while the values of same criteria showed a meaningful difference after the treatment between the surgically and conservatively treated groups.There were also no difference between the rates of canal encroachment (CE) before and after treatment between two groups. The canal remodelation rate was higher in surgically treated group. The amount of canal encroachment did not effect the result of treatment. Denis scales are used to evaluate the functional status of our patients. There were no statistical difference between two study groups both for working status and pain status at the end of follow up period. We concluded that two column injured burst type thoracolumber vertebral fractures without neurological deficit can be treated conservatively or surgically. Factors such as medical status, economic costs and surgical experience should be taken in consideration for the determination of type of treatment.}, number={4}, publisher={Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology}