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Analysis of complications and perioperative data after open or percutaneous dorsal instrumentation following traumatic spinal fracture of the thoracic and lumbar spine: a retrospective cohort study including 491 patients

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the current study is to analyze perioperative data and complications of open vs. percutaneous dorsal instrumentation after dorsal stabilization in patients suffering from fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine.

Methods

In the time period from 01/2007 to 06/2009, open surgical approach was used for dorsal stabilization. The percutaneous surgical approach was used from 05/2009 to 03/2014. In every time period, all types of fractures were treated only by open or by percutaneous approach, respectively, to avoid any selection bias. Retrospectively, epidemiological data, complications and perioperative data were documented and statistically analyzed.

Results

A total of 491 patients met the inclusion criteria. Open surgery procedure was carried out on 169 patients, and percutaneous surgery procedure was carried out on 322 patients. Fracture level ranged from T1 to L5, and fractures were classified types A, B, and C. In 91.4% of all patients, no complication occured following dorsal stabilization after traumatic spine fracture during their hospital stay. However, 42 complications related to dorsal stabilization have been documented during the hospital stay. The complication rate was 14.8% if open surgical approach has been used and was significantly reduced to 5.3% using percutaneous surgical approach. Post-operative hospital stay was also reduced significantly using the percutaneous surgical approach.

Conclusions

According to the current study, percutaneous dorsal stabilization of the spine could also be safely used in trauma cases and is not restricted to degenerative spinal surgery.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to Friederike Töpfer for help with data acquisition and data management. Thanks to Johannes Gladitz for statistical expertise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery, BG Trauma Centre Ludwigshafen, Ludwig-Guttmann-Str. 13, 67071, Ludwigshafen, Germany

    Michael Kreinest, Jan Rillig, Paul A. Grützner, Marco Tinelli & Stefan Matschke

  2. S2-Statistics Services, Berlin, Germany

    Maike Küffer

Authors
  1. Michael Kreinest
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  2. Jan Rillig
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  3. Paul A. Grützner
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  4. Maike Küffer
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  5. Marco Tinelli
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  6. Stefan Matschke
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Kreinest.

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Conflict of interest and source of funding

The authors declare having no conflicts of interest towards the current study. There was no funding for this study.

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Kreinest, M., Rillig, J., Grützner, P.A. et al. Analysis of complications and perioperative data after open or percutaneous dorsal instrumentation following traumatic spinal fracture of the thoracic and lumbar spine: a retrospective cohort study including 491 patients. Eur Spine J 26, 1535–1540 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4911-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4911-8

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