[Clinical study of Wiltse approach with fulcrum reduction technique in the treatment of AO-A type thoracolumbar fractures].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Wiltse approach with fulcrum reduction technique and pedicle internal fixation in the treatment of AO-A type thoracolumbar fractures.

Methods: The clinical data of 16 patients with AO-A type thoracolumbar fractures treated with Wiltse approach with fulcrum reduction technique and pedicle internal fixation between September 2013 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 7 females, the age ranged from 38 to 60 years, with an average age of 50.7 years. Causes of injury included 9 cases of falling from height, 3 cases of traffic accidents, 3 cases of falling, and 1 case crushed by heavy objects. Fractured segment involved T 11 in 2 cases, T 12 in 5 cases, L 1 in 7 cases, and L 2 in 2 cases. There were 6 cases of type A1, 3 cases of type A2, 5 cases of type A3, and 2 cases of type A4 according to AO fracture classification. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and removal time of internal fixator were recorded. Before operation, immediately after operation, before and after removal of internal fixator, the local kyphotic angle (LKA), anterior vertebral height (AVH), and posterior vertebral height (PVH) of fractured vertebral body were measured; visual analogue scale (VAS) score of back pain were evaluated before operation, at 3 days after operation, before and after removal of internal fixator.

Results: The operation time of the patients was 50-95 minutes, with an average of 70.7 minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 50-230 mL, with an average of 132.9 mL; the internal fixator was removed after 18-30 months, with an average of 23.6 months. All patients were followed up 20-32 months, with an average of 25.6 months. No incision infection, hematoma, and other surgery-related complications, and internal fixator rupture residual complications occurred. All 16 patients achieved satisfactory reduction results. Immediate postoperative LKA, AVH, and PVH were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones ( P <0.05). There was a certain degree of reduction loss before internal fixator removal, and the difference in LKA was significant ( P <0.05), but the difference in AVH and PVH were not significant ( P >0.05). There was a certain degree of reduction loss after internal fixator removal, but only the difference in AVH was significant ( P <0.05), and there was no significant difference in LKA and PVH ( P >0.05). The VAS score of the back pain significantly improved at 3 days after operation and before internal fixator removal when compared with preoperative score ( P <0.05). The pain after internal fixator removal was significantly worse than that before internal fixator removal ( P <0.05).

Conclusion: The Wiltse approach with fulcrum reduction technique and pedicle internal fixation in the treatment of AO-A thoracolumbar fractures has a short operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, and the posterior soft tissue and other structures are well protected during the operation. It can provide satisfactory clinical reduction results.