Neurological Deficits in Thoraco-Lumbar Burst Fractures: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: The majority of spinal fractures are found to occur in the thoraco-lumbar region, presumably as a result of transition from the relatively immobile thoracic spine to the mobile lumbar spine. The neurological deficits (ND) depend on the involvement of the cord, conus medullaris, or cauda equine. This is to study the patterns of spinal fractures and associated neurological deficit. Also to assess the spectrum of ND as assessed by Frankel's grading.

Materials & Methods: Data based descriptive study on patient came to orthopedic department in a tertiary care centre Kerala, India. Among 604 cases of vertebral fractures reported between Jan 2007 to April 2014 were studied and 260 cases of thoraco-lumber and lumber fractures were selected. 45 cases out of 58 cases of burst fracture of thoraco-lumbar and lumbar spine were included for analysis neurological deficit.

Result: 57.8% burst fracture of thoraco-lumber and lumber and lumber belongs to subtype-B of Denis classification. 57.8% patients had incomplete neurological deficit and 22.2% patients had complete neurological deficit at the time of admission.

Conclusion: Denis type-B is the commonest subtype of burst fracture of thoraco-lumbar and lumbar burst fractures, and type-C is rarely seen. Majority of the patients have incomplete neurological deficit at the time of admission.