Advanced Research Of Thoracolumbar Fracture

Thoracolumbar fracture is very common in clinic. There are many reports about its incidence rate. More credible report is 5%-6% of the total fractures and 70%-80% of spine fracture. The incidence rate of thoracolumbar fracture is lower than extremities fracture. While thoracolumbar fracture has more significance than extremities fracture for surgeons. Because the function after healing of spinal trauma patients is the worst, the probability back to works is the lowest and the harmfulness to the society is also higher than other fractures in all fractures in trauma. The injury of traffic accident and falling become the major factor in the occurrence of thoracolumbar fracture. Spine is a complex structure forming by a plurality of vertebrae and relying on the connection of intervertebral disk, cone joint and ligament. It has a lot of factions. It not only can support the body, balance the weight from all parts of the body and keep a stable weight, but also can absorb the stress and vibration working on the spine and avoid the damage of spinal cord and thoracic and abdominal organs. Thoracolumbar fracture is often combined with disc-related injuries. While there is not a unified theory at home and abroad now to the injury location of thoracolumbar fracture combining with disc-related injuries. The common types of thoracolumbar fracture include Denis type, AO/ASIF type, LSC, thoracolumbar injury type and severity marking system. All types have their advantages and disadvantages and there is no type can guide the treatment accurately at present. There is no unified opinion to disc-related injuries types. The test method of disc-related injuries accepting by people at present is MRI. Oner and Sander put forward different classification standard of intervertebral disc according to thoracolumbar MRI. At present, conservative treatment is always chosen in clinic to the thoracolumbar injury with lesser extent damage and better stability of spine. Surgical treatment is chosen to the patients who have complex condition or loss the stability of thoracolumbar. The purpose of surgical treatment to thoracolumbar fracture patients is as follows: 1. recover the height, order and curvature of centrum. 2. Relieve the nerve oppression 3. Rebuilt the stability of spine by fixing and mixing. The common operation methods of thoracolumbar fracture are posterior approach, anterior approach, Combination of anterior and posterior operation, minimally invasive surgery and endoscopic operation and etc. This paper introduces the recent newest research progress to the advantages and disadvantages and indications of all treatment options and provides reference for thoracolumbar fracture patients.