Clinical Outcome of Internal Fixation and Fusion in the Treatment of Spinal Fractures by Paraspinal Muscular Space Approach

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of internal fixation and fusion with the paraspinal muscle gap approach in the treatment of spinal fracture patients.Methods:104 spinal fracture patients admitted to Central Hospital of TCM from October 2022 to April 2024 were selected as the study subjects and were randomly divided into the control group(n=52)and the observation group(n=52)according to the random number table method.The control group was treated with the conventional approach of internal fixation surgery,and the observation group was treated with the paraspinal muscular interspace approach of internal fixation fusion.The two groups’general data,surgical indexes,pain,lumbar spine function,and postoperative complications were observed.Results:The baseline data of the two groups of patients were not statistically significant(all P>0.05)while the intraoperative bleeding,the first postoperative time getting up from bed,and the length of hospital stay of the patients in the observation group were shorter than that of the control group(all P=0.000<0.001),and the duration of the operation was longer than that of the control group(t=2.644,P=0.010<0.05);at 3 months postoperatively,the VAS scores of the patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(t=10.768,P=0.000<0.001),and the JOA score was higher than that of the control group(t=6.498,P=0.000<0.001);the total complication rate of patients in the observation group(3/5.77%)was significantly lower than that of the control group(12/23.08%)(χ^(2)=6.310,P=0.012<0.05).Conclusion:In the treatment of spinal fracture patients,compared with the conventional approach to internal fixation surgery,the paraspinal muscular gap approach to internal fixation and fusion treatment is less traumatic,postoperative lumbar spine function recovery is faster,and can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Study on the Application Effect of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in Patients Undergoing Spinal Fracture Surgery

Objective:To study the application effect of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery(ERAS)model in patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery.Methods:A randomized controlled trial was designed,and 86 patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery were randomly divided into the ERAS group and the conventional care group.Postoperative recovery outcomes of the two groups were compared.Results:The ERAS group showed better outcomes in terms of postoperative pain scores,activities of daily living,length of hospital stay,and adherence to rehabilitation training compared to the conventional care group,with shorter hospital stays and lower medical expenses(P<0.05).Conclusion:The ERAS model significantly improves the postoperative recovery quality of patients undergoing spinal fracture surgery,reduces hospital stay and medical costs,and increases patient satisfaction.

Analgesic Effect of Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia and its Effect on TNF-α and CRP Levels in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture During Surgical Treatment

Objective:To observe the analgesic effect of combined spinal and epidural anesthesia on older patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.Method:One hundred and twenty elderly hip fracture surgery patients treated in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected and randomly divided into two groups,with 60 cases in the experimental group and 60 in the control group.The experimental group was given combined spinal-epidural anesthesia intervention measures,while the control group was given epidural anesthesia intervention measures.The analgesic effect,tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP)levels,and other observation indicators were analyzed after anesthesia intervention.Result:After the intervention,the analgesic effect and the evaluation results of the subjects in the experimental group were better than those in the control group(P<0.05);the obtained values of TNF-αand CRP levels in the experimental group were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combined spinal-epidural anesthesia intervention demonstrated positive outcomes.The analgesic effect of patients during surgery and their inflammatory factor levels improved,which makes this intervention worthy of clinical application and promotion.

Effectiveness and postoperative rehabilitation of one-stage combined anterior-posterior surgery for severe thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND Thoracolumbar fractures are generally combined with spinal cord injury to varying degrees,which may cause deterioration of the patients’condition and increase the difficulty of clinical treatment.At present,anterior or combined anterior-posterior surgery is preferred for severe thoracolumbar fractures.AIM To investigate the effectiveness and postoperative rehabilitation of one-stage combined anterior-posterior surgery for severe thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury.METHODS One-hundred-and-twenty patients who received surgery for severe thoracolumbar fractures with spinal cord injury at our hospital from February 2018 to February 2020 were randomly enrolled.They were randomly divided into group 1(one-stage combined anterior-posterior surgery,n=60)and group 2(onestage anterior-approach surgery,n=60).Treatment efficacy was compared between the two groups.RESULTS Blood loss was greater and the operation time was longer in group 1 than in group 2,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Incision length,intraoperative X-rays,and length of hospital stay were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).Preoperative function of the affected vertebrae was not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).In each group,the patients showed significant improvement after surgery.The anterior vertebral height ratio and the posterior vertebral height ratio in group 1 after surgery were significantly higher than those in group 2.The Cobb angle after surgery was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2(P<0.05).The canal-occupying ratio of the affected vertebrae was not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).Before surgery,there was no significant difference in the quality of life scores between the two groups(P>0.05).The above indicators were significantly improved after surgery compared with before surgery in each group.In addition,these indicators were markedly better in group 1 than in group 2 after surgery(P<0.05 for each).CONCLUSION One-stage combined anterior-posterior surgery effectively improves the function of the affected vertebrae and the life quality of patients with severe thoracolumbar fractures and spinal cord injury.This surgical approach is worthy of popularization in clinical use.

Research of the Clinical Effect of Kyphoplasty in the Treatment of Multiple Senile Osteoporotic Spinal Fractures

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect of kyphoplasty in the treatment of multiple osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the elderly.Methods:The duration of the study was selected from January 2018 to December 2020,and 38 patients with multiple osteoporotic spinal fractures were selected for study evaluation.All patients were treated with kyphoplasty.The clinical indicators of the two groups were compared and analyzed.Results:The total effective rate was 94.7%and the complication rate was 5.3%.The height of midline,anterior and posterior vertebral body,Cobb angle,VAS score,ODI score and ADL score of 38 patients before and after treatment were compared,which were significantly better than those before treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion:The clinical effect of kyphoplasty in the treatment of elderly patients with multiple osteoporosis is significant,which can be promoted in all levels of medical institutions.

Radiographic measurement of morphological abnormalities in thoracolumbar burst fractures: relationship with spinal cord lesion

Objective:To investigate the relationship between morphological abnormalities and spinal cord deficit in thoracolumbar burst fractures. Methods: Seventy-eight patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were retrospectively reviewed to calculate the stenotic ratio of spinal canal based on the midsagittal diameters and the hyphosis angle according to Cobb. The ASIA scoring of motor function of lower extremities was recorded . Results: The differences (P > 0.05) of the stenotic ratio of spinal canal and the kyphosis angle were not significant between patients without neurological deficit, with incomplete and complete lesions. No significant correlation(P > 0.05) between the stenotic ratio of spinal canal and the kyphosis angle, and ASIA scoring was noted. Conclusion:The severity of spinal cord injuries in thoracolumbar burst fractures is not predicted according to the percentage of canal stenosis or the degree of kyphesis induced by thoracolumbar burst fractures.

A comparison of robot-assisted and fluoroscopy-assisted kyphoplasty in the treatment of multi-segmental osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture(OVCF)has become a major public health issue that becomes more pressing with increasing global aging.Percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP)is an effective treatment for OVCF.Robot-assisted PKP has been utilized in recent years to improve accuracy and reduce complications.However,the effectiveness of robot-assisted PKP in the treatment of multi-segmental OVCF has yet to be proved.This study was designed to compare the efficacy of robot-assisted and conventional fluoroscopy-assisted multi-segmental PKP.A total of 30 cases with multi-segmental OVCF between April 2019 and April 2021 were included in this study.Fifteen cases were assigned to the robot-assisted PKP group(robot group)and 15 cases to the conventional fluoroscopy-assisted PKP group(conventional fluoroscopy group).The number of fluoroscopic exposures,fluoroscopic dose,operation time,cement leakage rate,visual analog scale(VAS)score,vertebral kyphosis angle(VKA),and height of fractured vertebral body(HFV)were compared between the 2 groups.The number of fluoroscopic exposures,fluoroscopic doses,and cement leakage rates in the robot group were lower than in the conventional fluoroscopy group(P<0.05)while the operative time in the robot group was longer than in the conventional fluoroscopy group(P<0.05).VAS score and VKA were decreased and HFV was increased after surgery in both groups(P<0.05).Therefore,robot-assisted PKP for the treatment of multi-segmental OVCF can reduce the number of fluoroscopic exposures,fluoroscopic doses,and cement leakage compared to conventional treatment.As such,robot-assisted PKP has good application prospects and is potentially more effective in the treatment of multi-segmental OVCF.

Comparison of the modified Wiltse’s approach with spinal minimally invasive system and traditional approach for the therapy of thoracolumbar fracture

Thoracolumbar fractures are usually treated by open posterior pedicle screw fixation.However,this procedure involves massive paraspinal muscle stripping,inflicting surgical trauma,and prolonged X-ray exposure.In this study,we observed 127 patients with single-segment injury thoracolumbar fractures.Thirty-six patients were treated by the modified Wiltse’s paraspinal approach with minimally invasive channel system,while 91 patients were treated via traditional posterior approach.Operation time,intraoperative blood loss,intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency,screw placement accuracy,visual analogue scale score,and Cobb’s angle of two groups were compared.The X-ray exposure times were notably reduced(4.2±1.6) in the new approach group(P<0.05).The pedicle screw placement accuracy and Cobb’s angle after surgery were similar in the two groups.We conclude that modified Wiltse’s paraspinal approach w ith spinal minimally invasive channel system surgery can significantly reduce the X-ray exposure times and is an alternative therapy for the thoracolumbar fracture.

THE OPERATIVE TREATMENT OF SPINAL FRACTURE-DISLOCATION WITHOUT NEUROLOGIC DEFICITS

To evaluate the results of operative treatment of spinal fracture dislocation without neurologic deficits. Methods.Eighteen patients with spinal fracture dislocation were neurologically intact at the time of injury, and all were treated operatively. The fracture sites were:8 cases in cervical spine, 3 cases in thoracic spine, and 7 cases in lumbar spine. Eight patients with cervical injuries had variant degrees of forward slide and kyphotic deformity. Of the 10 thoracic and lumbar fractures, one had lateral dislocation, 4 cases with kyphotic deformities, 5 cases with spinal canal compromise averaged 50% (ranging from 40% to 70%). Results.The average period of follow up was 4.4 years with a range of 11 months to 13 years. All the patients returned to full time work. No patient developed neurologic deterioration. Kyphotic deformity was corrected in the 4 cases, and no progressive kyphosis was noted. There was no operation related complication. The averaged post operative hospitalization time was 13 days. Conclusions. Despite the rare incidence of spinal fracture dislocation without neurologic deficits, we suggested that kind of fracture be considered unstable fracture because of its potential risk of delayed neurologic deterioration and kyphotic deformity, and be treated operatively to restore the sagittal alignment and the stability of the spine.

Development and validation of a predictive model for spinal fracture risk in osteoporosis patients

BACKGROUND Spinal osteoporosis is a prevalent health condition characterized by the thinning of bone tissues in the spine,increasing the risk of fractures.Given its high incidence,especially among older populations,it is critical to have accurate and effective predictive models for fracture risk.Traditionally,clinicians have relied on a combination of factors such as demographics,clinical attributes,and radiological characteristics to predict fracture risk in these patients.However,these models often lack precision and fail to include all potential risk factors.There is a need for a more comprehensive,statistically robust prediction model that can better identify high-risk individuals for early intervention.AIM To construct and validate a model for forecasting fracture risk in patients with spinal osteoporosis.METHODS The medical records of 80 patients with spinal osteoporosis who were diagnosed and treated between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively examined.The patients were selected according to strict criteria and categorized into two groups:Those with fractures(n=40)and those without fractures(n=40).Demographics,clinical attributes,biochemical indicators,bone mineral density(BMD),and radiological characteristics were collected and compared.A logistic regression analysis was employed to create an osteoporotic fracture risk-prediction model.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)was used to evaluate the model’s performance.RESULTS Factors significantly associated with fracture risk included age,sex,body mass index(BMI),smoking history,BMD,vertebral trabecular alterations,and prior vertebral fractures.The final risk-prediction model was developed using the formula:(logit[P]=-3.75+0.04×age-1.15×sex+0.02×BMI+0.83×smoking history+2.25×BMD-1.12×vertebral trabecular alterations+1.83×previous vertebral fractures).The AUROC of the model was 0.93(95%CI:0.88-0.96,P<0.001),indicating strong discriminatory capabilities.CONCLUSION The fracture risk-prediction model,utilizing accessible clinical,biochemical,and radiological information,offered a precise tool for the evaluation of fracture risk in patients with spinal osteoporosis.The model has potential in the identification of high-risk individuals for early intervention and the guidance of appropriate preventive actions to reduce the impact of osteoporosis-related fractures.

Comparative effect of intrathecal meperidine,tramadol,magnesium sulfate,and dexmedetomidine on preventing post-spinal anesthesia shivering and adverse events in hip fracture repair patients:A randomized clinical trial

Objective:To compare effect of intrathecal meperidine,tramadol,magnesium sulfate,and dexmedetomidine on the prevention of post-spinal anesthesia shivering and adverse events in hip fracture repair patients.Methods:In a randomized,double-blind trial,132 patients with American Society of Anesthesiology(ASA)ⅠandⅡspinal anesthesia who needed hip fracture surgery were enrolled.Patients were stratified into 4 intervention groups based on a randomized block pattern:meperidine,tramadol,magnesium sulfate,and dexmedetomidine.Hemodynamic parameters including blood pressure,heart rate,and oxygen saturation,as well as the severity of shivering,core body temperature,Ramsay sedation score,adverse events,meperidine consumption were recorded and compared.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the normal hemodynamic parameters,temperature,duration of surgery,meperidine consumption,and adverse events such as dizziness,hypotension,nausea,and bradycardia among groups(P>0.05).Compared to other groups,severity of shivering was the lower in the dexmedetomidine group 6 and 8 h after surgery.The Ramsay sedation scores were higher in the dexmedetomidine and meperidine groups 4 h after surgery(P=0.020).Conclusion:Dexmedetomidine acts better than the other three adjuvants in reducing complications such as shivering.Overall,these four adjuvants are helpful to prevent postoperative shivering and could be put forward as promising local anesthetics in spinal anesthesia,based on anesthesiologists’discretion and patients’general conditions.Clinical registration:The study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee at the Valiasr Hospital(Arak,Iran)with the clinical trial code of IRCT20141209020258N153.

THORACIC SPINE FRACTURES

Objective. To investigate the unique characteristics and treatment of thoracic spine fractures. Methods. Seventy seven patients with thoracic spine fractures were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, there were 37 compression fractures, 34 fracture dislocations, 3 burst fractures and 3 burst dislocations. Twenty six patients had a complete lesion of the spinal cord, 14 sustained a neurologically incomplete injury, and 37 were neurologically intact. Fifty three patients were treated nonoperatively and 24 treated operatively. Results. All patients were followed up for 2～15 years. None of the 26 patients with a complete lesion recovered any significant function. Of 37 neurologically intact patients, 13 had local pain although all of them remained normal function. Two of 14 patients with incomplete paraplegia returned to normal, 7 recovered some function and 5 did not recovered. Conclusions. Because of the unique anatomy and biomechanics of the thoracic spine, the classification commonly applied to thoracolumbar fractures is not suitable for thoracic fractures. Fusion and instrumentation are indicated when the fractures are unstable, while patients with incomplete lesion of the spinal cord may be the candidates for supplemented decompression.

Study on the Value of the Theory of Protection Motivation in the Nursing of Spinal Fracture to the Quality of Life

Objective:To analyze the effect of protection motivation theory on the quality of life of patients with spinal fracture.Methods:From August 2019 to September 2020,72 patients with spinal fracture were selected and randomly divided into two groups.The routine nursing group was the routine nursing group,and the combined nursing with the theory of protective motivation was the dynamic nursing group.Results:The hospitalization time,detumescence time,healing time and muscle strength recovery time of group A were shorter than those of group B(P<0.05).The VAS score and Barthel index score of the dynamic group were better than those of the conventional group(P<0.05);The score of SF-36 in the group A was higher than that in the group B(P<0.05).Conclusions:The application of protection motivation theory in the nursing of patients with spinal fracture can shorten the healing time of fracture,promote the recovery of muscle strength,relieve the pain of fracture,and then improve the ability of daily life and quality of life of patients.

Establishment and validation of standardized animal models of spinal cord injury by normal external force-caused fracture dislocation

The duplication of animal models plays a key role in spinal cord injury research; however, there has been limited study into normal, external force-derived fracture dislocation. This study adopted experimental devices, designed in-house, to construct standardized ventral and dorsal spinal cord injury animal models of 6 g and 17 g falling from a height of 2, 4, and 10 cm, and 15, 30 or 50 g transversal compression on the spinal cord. The results showed that gradual increases in the degree of histopathological injury led to decreased Tarlov and Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores for the behavioral test, and increased Ashworth scores for the hind limb. Furthermore, there was a gradual decline in the slope test in the rats with dorsal spinal cord injury that correlated to increases in the falling substance weight or falling height. Similar alterations were observed in the ventral spinal cord injured rats, proportional to the increase in compression weight. Our experimental findings indicate that the standardized experimental rat models of dorsal and ventral spinal cord injury are stable, reliable and reproducible.

Management of acute spinal cord injury:A summary of the evidence pertaining to the acute management,operative and non-operative management

Acute traumatic spinal cord injury is often a lifechanging and devastating event with considerable mortality and morbidity.Over half a million people suffer from traumatic spinal cord injury annually with the majority resulting from road traffic accidents or falls.The Individual,societal and economic costs are enormous.Initial recognition and treatment of acute traumatic spinal cord injury are crucial to limit secondary injury to the spinal cord and to provide patients with the best chance of some functional recovery.This article is an overview of the management of the acute traumatic spinal cord injury patient presenting to the emergency department.We review the initial assessment,criteria for imaging and clearing the spine,and evaluate the literature to determine the optimum timing of surgery and the role of non-surgical treatment in patients presenting with acute spinal cord injury.

Total spinal anesthesia caused by lidocaine during unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty performed under local anesthesia:A case report

BACKGROUND Intradural anesthesia caused by anesthetic drug leakage during percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP)has rarely been reported.We here report a 71-year-old woman who suffered this rare and life-threatening complication during PVP.CASE SUMMARY A 71-year-old woman,who suffered from 2 wk of severe back pain with a visual analog score of 8,came to our outpatient clinic.She was later diagnosed with a newly compressed L1 fracture and was then admitted in our department.PVP was initially attempted again under local anesthesia.However,serendipitous intradural anesthesia leading to total spinal anesthesia happened.Fortunately,after successful resuscitation of the patient,PVP was safely and smoothly performed.Great pain relief was achieved postoperatively,and she was safely discharged on postoperative day 4.The patient recovered normally at 3-mo follow-up.CONCLUSION Total spinal anesthesia secondary to PVP by anesthetic drug leakage rarely occurs.In cases of inadvertent wrong puncture leading to drug leakage when performing it under local anesthesia,surgeons should be highly vigilant during the whole procedure.Electrocardiogram monitoring,oxygen inhalation,intravenous cannula set prior to surgery,regular checking of motor activity and a meticulous imaging monitoring with slower pushing of anesthetic drugs,etc.should be highly recommended.

Effect of AXIS lateral mass screw-plate internal fixation system on functional recovery of spinal cord in fracture of lower cervical vertebrae

AIM:To evaluate the methods and results of the AXIS lateral mass screw plate system in the treating of lower cervical spine injury.METHODS:29 cases of lower cervical vertebrae injury were fixed with AXIS system.All of them were followed up for more than 1 year.RESULTS:All cases had a good bone union without malformation.We found no complication of the injury to the vertebral arteries or nerves.There was no loosening of the plate and screw. CONCLUSION:AXIS lateral mass screw plate system has the characteristic of stable,simple and safe and is suitable for the treatment of lower cervical spine injury.

Pressure ulcers and acute risk factors in individuals with traumatic spinal fractures with or without spinal cord injuries:A prospective analysis of the National Spinal Column/Cord Injury Registry of Iran(NSCIR-IR)data

Purpose:To identify risk factors for developing pressure ulcers(PUs)in the acute care period of traumatic spinal fracture patients with or without spinal cord injuries(SCIs).Methods:Data were collected prospectively in participating the National Spinal column/Cord Injury Registry of Iran(NSCIR-IR)from individuals with traumatic spinal fractures with or without SCIs,in-clusive of the hospital stay from admission to discharge.Trained nursing staff examined the patients for the presence of PUs every 8 h during their hospital stay.The presence and grade of PUs were assessed according to the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel classification.In addition to PU,following data were also extracted from the NSCIR-IR datasets during the period of 2015-2021:age,sex,Glasgow coma scale score at admission,having SCIs,marital status,surgery for a spinal fracture,American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale(AIS),urinary incontinence,level of education,admitted center,length of stay in the intensive care unit(ICU),hypertension,respiratory diseases,consumption of ciga-rettes,diabetes mellitus and length of stay in the hospital.Logistic regression models were used to es-timate the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio(OR)with 95%confidence intervals(CI).Results:Altogether 2785 participants with traumatic spinal fractures were included.Among them,87(3.1%)developed PU during their hospital stay and 392(14.1%)had SCIs.In the SCI population,63(16.1%)developed PU during hospital stay.Univariate logistic regression for the whole sample showed that marital status,having SCIs,urinary incontinence,level of education,treating center,number of days in the ICU,age,and Glasgow coma scale score were significant predictors for PUs.However,further analysis by multiple logistic regression only revealed the significant risk factors to be the treating center,marital status,having SCIs,and the number of days in the ICU.For the subgroup of individuals with SCIs,marital status,AIS,urinary incontinence,level of education,the treating center,the number of days in the ICU and the number of days in the hospital were significant predictors for PUs by univariate analysis.After adjustment in the multivariate model,the treating center,marital status(singles vs.marrieds,OR=3.06,95%CI:1.55-6.03,p=0.001),and number of days in the ICU(OR=1.06,95%Cl:1.04-1.09,p<0.001)maintained significance.Conclusions:These data confirm that individuals with traumatic spinal fractures and SCIs,especially single young patients who suffer from urinary incontinence,grades A-D by AIS,prolonged ICU stay,and more extended hospitalization are at increased risk for PUs;as a result strategies to minimize PU development need further refinement.

Thoracolumbar spine fracture complicated by simple conus medullaris injury

Between 1990 and 1996, 15 patients with thoracolumbar spine fracture complicated by simple conusmedullaris injury were admitted. All patients were Injured by falling from height (mean, o meters). Clinical symp-toms indicated hypoesthesia or anesthesia of S3-5 sensory region,dysporia and urinary dysfunction. but normal sensation and motion of the bilateral lower extremities. Waston-Jones classified the spinal cord and nerve root injury following thoracolumbar spine fracture into three types. According to our observations, it should be classfied into five types: 1) concussion of the conus medullaris; 2) simple incomplete injury of the conus medullaris; 3) simplecomplete injury of the conus medullaris; 4) spinal cord transection and partial nerve root injury; 5) spinal cordtransection and entire nerve root injury.

Can the Interspinous Distance Predict Kyphosis in Conservative Treatment in Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture? A Retrospective, Diagnostic Study

Study Design: Retrospective, diagnostic study. Objective: To verify if the interspinous distance is able to predict the risk for kyphotic collapse in thoracolumbar burst fractures treated conservatively without neurological deficit. Summary of Background Data: In patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures, the association between the amount of comminution, by using load-sharing classification (LSC), and kyphotic collapse is presented in the literature. However, LSC does not include the interspinous distance as an indirect sign to suggest biomechanical instability due to posterior ligamentous disruption in these patients in order to predict kyphotic collapse. Methods: We added the interspinous distance to the load-sharing classification (MLSC) in 50 consecutive patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures (according to Denis criteria) treated conservatively. Results: The LSC score was correlated to kyphotic collapse in the patients treated with TLSO (r = 0.312, p = 0.027;Spearman test;A = 0.668). The MLSC was similarly correlated to kyphotic collapse among TLSO-treated patients (r = 0.295, p = 0.038;Spearman test;A = 0.652). Conclusions: The interspinous distance did not contribute to the identification of worse radiographic outcomes, represented by the kyphotic collapse. This may suggest that the amount of comminution pointed out by the LSC is enough and more important than the interspinous opening in order to predict kyphotic collapse in thoracolumbar burst fractures. Possibly, the interspinous distance is much too heterogenous and multifactorial to be useful, since it reflects vertebral body height, preinjury anatomy, as well as posterior element disruption.