Conservative and operative treatment in cervical burst fractures

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the results of non-operative and anterior operative treatment of cervical burst and flexion teardrop fractures. Sixty-nine consecutive patients treated during 1980 to 1995 were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty-four of them had been treated with skull traction or halo-vest and 35 with anterior decompression, bone grafting and fixation by an anterior Caspar plate. Neurological functioning on admission and at the end of the follow-up was assessed by using Frankel’s classification. Kyphosis and spinal canal encroachment by retropulsed fragments were measured radiographically. Operatively treated patients recovered more often with at least one Frankel grade (P = 0.027) and presented less narrowing of the spinal canal (P = 0.0006) and kyphotic deformity (P = 0.00003) at the end of the follow-up. In comparison with the conservative methods, the operative Caspar technique provided superior decompression and fixation as well as promoted the healing of cord injuries caused by burst and flexion teardrop fractures.