Course: Intraspinal Bone Fragments Resorption in Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture
CME Credits: 1.00
Released: 2023-10-09
A man in his 30s with a 7-hour history of an unintentional fall from over 20 m was transported to a surgical ward on a wheeled bed. Symptoms included pain in the lower back and hip, numbness and pain in the lower extremities, and urinary retention. Physical findings included hypoesthesia indicated by a motor strength of 3 on a scale of 0 to 5 (0 indicating no contraction and 5 indicating normal strength) in both of his lower limbs. Thoracolumbar computed tomography (CT) images revealed pelvic fracture and a burst fracture at L1, resulting in severe dura mater compression (, A). Emergency surgical intervention was recommended, considering an unstable pelvis and neurological injury. The patient received both pelvic fixation surgery and posterior spinal stabilization without decompression. The burst fragments still protruded in the spinal canal, as showed on thoracolumbar CT images 4 days after operation (, B). Results of physical examinations demonstrated decreased hypoesthesia and a motor strength of 4 in both legs 7 days postsurgery. The patient was discharged from the hospital to a rehabilitation center for further recovery. The patient walked into the spine clinic with crutches 5 months postoperation, stating that he could urinate without a catheter. Lumbar CT images revealed bone fragments in the spinal canal partly resorbed (, C). The patient presented to the spine clinic without crutches 2 years and 3 months postsurgery, stating his full neurological recovery. The results of physical examinations were normal. He insisted on removal of spinal fixation because he had a psychological resistance to external objects in his body. Spinal hardware was removed, complying with the patient’s request. Lumbar CT images showed complete spinal canal remodeling. He presented at the spine clinic 2 years after the removal surgery and no residual symptoms or physical signs were found. At that time, results of the CT images revealed that the spinal canal remained the same as 2 years before (, D).
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