Traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures

Abstract

Traumatic spinal fractures have the lowest functional outcomes and the lowest rates of return to work after injury of all major organ systems.1 This thesis will cover traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures and not osteoporotic spine fractures because of the difference in fracture mechanism and treatment options. Fracture care has improved by incorporating scientific research in the whole continuum from basic science to the clinical application. In the following some aspects of the treatment of traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures will be discussed with emphasis on the randomized clinical study of operative versus non-operative treatment of burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine