short segment instrumentation for thoracolumbar fractures

Burst fractures are common injury of thoracolumbar spine and have been reported to be associated with neurological deficit. The indications for operative decompression and selection of an operative procedure for stabilization of thoracolumbar burst fracture associated with neurological deficit are controversial. A point system published in 1994 is a straightforward way to describe the amount of bony comminuntion in spinal fracture. When applied to a patients with isolated spine fracture who are cooperative with 3 to 4 months of spinal bracing, it can help the surgeon selects short segment screw pedicle- based – fixation using the posterior approach for less comminuted injures and the anterior approach for those more comminuted. The aim of this work is to assess short segment instrumentation and fusion of thoracolumbar fractures in young active patients using load- sharing classification as a preoperative radiological point scoring system for pre -operative selection of either anterior or posterior approach in surgical treatment of throcolumbar burst fracture to achieve stable fixation of the fracture till fusion.