OUTCOME OF FIXATEUR INTERNE IN THORACOLUMBAR TRAUMA
Abstract
Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition often affecting young and healthyindividuals around the world. This debilitating condition not only creates enormous physical andemotional cost to individuals but also is a significant financial burden to society at large. The Objectivewas to study the outcome of spinal fixation with fixateur interne in cases of thoracolumbar spinalinjuries in terms of neurological recovery and complications. Methods: This Descriptive study wasconducted at Department of Neurosurgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex and Postgraduate MedicalInstitute, Peshawar, from March, 2006 to December, 2007 Study included patients admitted inNeurosurgery Ward HMC, with acute traumatic spinal injuries during the above mentioned period whounderwent thoracolumbar spinal fixation with fixateur interne. Name, age, sex, other relevant data,history, examination findings and investigation results were recorded. Postoperative outcome wasevaluated taking neurological status, and complications like infection, implant failure and othercomplications into consideration. Follow-up of 6 months was carried out. Results: There were 31patients, (18 male and 13 female). Fall from height (48%), road traffic accidents (26%) and crushinjuries (26%) caused the trauma. Most common age group was from 21–30 years age. Fracturedvertebrae included 2 D11 fractures, 12 D12 fractures, 13 L1 fractures, 3 L2 fractures and 1 L3 fracture.Mean operative time 80 minutes, mean blood loss 200 ml, mean hospital stay 6 days and mortality ratewas 0%. Number of patients with Frankel grade A reduced from 27 to 19 and in Frankel grade Eincreased from 0 to 4 patients. Only one patient had infection and one patient had implant removal.Conclusion: Fixateur interne is a useful and low-cost implant for fixation of thoracolumbar junctioninjuries with very easy availability and easy operative insertion and little blood loss. It has excellentpost-operative outcome in terms of neurological improvement and a very low complication rate.Mortality rate is minimal.Keywords: Spinal Fixation, Fixateur Interne, Thoracolumbar InjuriesReferences
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