VERTEBRAL GROWTH AFTER THORACIC OR LUMBAR FRACTURE OF THE SPINE IN CHILDREN

We studied vertebral growth after thoracic or lumbar fractures in 52 c hildren followed up from the time of fracture until skeletal maturity. We identified pure anterior compression in 32, combined anterior and lateral compression in 11, and total vertical compression in nine. Six patients had no treatment, 42 had a conservative treatment, and four were operated on. In fractures with anterior compression <10 degrees, no significant difference could be found between the group without tre atment and the group with conservative treatment when the Risser sign was 0 or 1 at the time of injury. In such fractures with angles >10 de grees, conservative treatment gave better results when the Risser sign at injury was less than or equal to 2. Prolonged conservative treatme nt was not effective in children with a Risser sign of 3. The evolutio n of lateral compression seems to be related to the initial injury rat her than to treatment. Vertical compression injuries were positively i nfluenced by a conservative treatment when the Risser sign was less th an or equal to 2.