PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF MANAGEMENT OF FRACTURES OF THORACOLUMBAR SPINE WITH PEDICLE SCREW FIXATION

Background: Spinal cord injuries and fractures of the thoracolumbar spine are common in modern orthopedic practice, leading to signicant morbidity, disability, and mortality if not properly diagnosed and managed. Surgical stabilization of the spine has been shown to prevent further damage to the neural tissue and improve neurological outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of posterior stabilization with pedicle screw-rod instrumentation in the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar spine fractures. Methodology: The prospective study was conducted on 20 patients with post-traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures treated surgically between August 2019 and September 2021. Patients were assessed for clinical and neurological status, and various imaging modalities such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI were used to determine the extent and nature of the injuries. Posterior stabilization with pedicle screw-rod instrumentation was performed in all cases. Results: The participants in the study ranged in age from 18 to 45 years old, including 16 men and 4 women. The most frequent causes of injury were road trafc accidents and falls from a height. The lumbar spine was more frequently affected than the thoracic spine. Pre-operative steroid administration was done in 14 cases. Neurological assessment using the ASIA scoring system showed improvement in neurological function postoperatively. Radiological assessments, including regional kyphotic angle, anterior wedge angle, and sagittal index, showed signicant improvement at different follow-up intervals. Conclusion: Posterior stabilization with pedicle screw-rod instrumentation proved to be an effective treatment for thoracolumbar spine fractures. The procedure restored near-normal anatomy and achieved favorable radiological outcomes in terms of vertebral height and alignment. It also led to improved neurological function, pain relief, early mobilization, and fewer complications associated with prolonged bed rest. The study supports the importance of early intervention for better prognosis in these cases.