Outcomes in Patients Having Fractures of  Dorsolumbar Spine – a Prospective Study

Dodia Apoorva V; Soman Shardul M; Shah Hardik

Volume : II, Issue : VI, June - 2013

Outcomes in Patients Having Fractures of Dorsolumbar Spine – a Prospective Study

Dodia Apoorva V, Soman Shardul M, Shah Hardik

Abstract :

Dorso-lumbar spine injury is the most common orthopaedic spinal cause of morbidity and mortality. It is the most common cause of paraparesis and paraplegia. Objective of the study is to evaluate the outcome of patients having fracture of dorsolumbar spine with either conservative or operative management. We studied 36 patients of fracture at dorsolumbar region (D11 to L2), treated with either conservative or operative method on randomised control basis. The functional outcome was assessed using the SF-36 score. Fall from height is the most common cause of dorsolumbar fractures with majority affected belonging to young population and presenting with significant neurological deficits. Patients who had Frankel C, D, or E grade at the time of presentation showed neurological improvement. In patients presenting with Frankel grade D&E without visceral involvement and with kyphosis angle<150, conservative management seems rational. Evaluation with SF-36 score showed excellent and good outcomes in most of these patients.