ADJACENT LEVEL DEGENERATION AND POST-TRAUMATIC DEFORMITY AFTER THORACOLUMBAR FRACTURES

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate thoracolumbar fractures and the complications such as adjacent disc degeneration (ADD) and post-traumatic deformity. Methods: We evaluated 32 patients divided into two equal groups, 16 in the case group (removal of the synthesis material) and 16 in the control group (not submitted to removal of the synthesis material) in order to verify if there was difference between the incidence of these complications. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the progression of the ADD and the post-traumatic deformity, but both progressed during the 2-year follow-up. Conclusion: It was concluded that the removal of the synthesis material was not effective in preventing these complications after surgical fractures of the thoracolumbar spine.

摘要
研究目的：评估胸腰椎骨折术后并发相邻椎间盘退变（adjacent disc degeneration, ADD）与创伤后畸形的发生情况。
方法：纳入32例患者，按1:1比例分为两组，观察组（取出内固定合成材料组）与对照组（未行内固定合成材料取出术组）各16例，以比较两组上述并发症的发生率差异。
结果：两组在相邻椎间盘退变及创伤后畸形的进展程度方面无统计学显著性差异，但两种并发症均在2年随访期间出现进展。
结论：胸腰椎骨折手术治疗后，取出内固定合成材料并不能有效预防上述并发症的发生。