CT MORPHOLOGY OF FRACTURED THORACOLUMBAR VERTEBRAE FOLLOWING TRANSPEDICULAR SPONGIOSAPLASTY AND INTERNAL-FIXATION

Purpose: An analysis of the CT morphology of fractured thoraco-lumbar vertebrae after treatment with internal fixation and transpedicular sp ongiosaplasty (SP). Material and method: 30 patients were examined fol lowing trauma and surgery after about 12 and 30 months by means of CT. The following were evaluated: width of the spinal canal; height of th e vertebra and intervertebral space; degree of kyphosis; position, siz e and appearance of the SP and of the vertebral body. Results: The wid th of the spinal canal was reconstituted in 91%; in 83% the anterior v ertebral margin and in 35% the intervertebral space was reduced. A kyp hosis of 8.9 degrees was found on the followup examination. The SP sho wed a reduction in size ((18)/(30)) or could no longer be defined ((6) /(30)). Hypodense areas ((18)/(30)) with cavitation ((12)/(30)) were f ound in the vertebral body and the SP could be identified by a sclerot ic margin ((22)/(30)). Conclusion: Treatment by this form of therapy w as successful, reaction of the vertebral body against the spongiosapla sty could be identified.