EPIDEMIOLOGY, TREATMENT AND LONG-TERM RES ULTS OF FRACTURED VERTEBRAEAT A NONTEACHING HOSPITAL WITH RESPECT TO LUMBAR SPINAL FRACTURES

In a retrospective study epidemiology, treatment, clinical and radiolo gical results of 283 patients with spine fractures in a five-year peri od are presented. The operation rate ranges from 42% of the cervical t o 9% of the thoracical and 24% of the lumbar spine. We found good radi ological results concerning the correction of the wedge compression an d the collapse of the lumbar vertebral body by fixation with an intern al fixator. After a follow-up of 2-5 years nearly 80% of conservative as well as operative treated patients had more or less residual back p ain. Because there is a correlation between the quantity of pain and t he radiological dislocation, exact initial diagnosis, without overlook ing an instability, and adequate conservative or operative treatment i s very important.