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Treatment of fractures and dislocations of the thoracic and lumbar spine by fusion and Harrington instrumentation

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Abstract

Thirty-three patients with fractures of the thoracolumbar spine were treated by fusion and Harrington instrumentation after early reduction and stabilisation by postural reduction or halo-bifemoral traction. The rod-long-fuse-short technique was used. Postoperatively, all patients were mobilised with an external support. The mean follow-up was 6 years (range 1–13 years). Twenty-eight patients were pain-free, three patients needed sporadic pain medication. One patient was not working due to pain in his leg. One patient had constant pain. Twenty-three patients returned to work. The mean kyphosis increased from 8° postoperatively to 13° at follow-up.

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Devilee, R., Sanders, R. & de Lange, S. Treatment of fractures and dislocations of the thoracic and lumbar spine by fusion and Harrington instrumentation. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 114, 100–102 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422835

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422835

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