Short-Segment Fixation Without Fusion for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures With Neurological Deficit Can Preserve Thoracolumbar Motion Without Resulting in Post-traumatic Disc Degeneration

At 10 years post-operation, 12 patients showed a mean range of motion of 12º at the disc adjacent to the fractured vertebra.

• Sagittal alignment improved from a mean preoperative kyphosis of 17° to -2° after surgery, with slight deterioration to 2° at final follow-up.
• Eight patients reported no back pain, while three had occasional minimal pain and one experienced moderate pain; none reported severe pain or required daily analgesics.
• The shape of the disc adjacent to the fractured vertebra remained unchanged from preoperative to 10-year postoperative MRI scans.
• The signal intensity of the adjacent disc decreased by one grade from preoperative to 2-year postoperative but remained stable from 2 years to 10 years.
• The findings suggest that short-segment fixation without fusion may preserve thoracolumbar motion while preventing post-traumatic disc degeneration.

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