Twenty-seven consecutive patients with neurological impairment due to
burst fractures of the lumbar spine were operated upon, via the poster
o-lateral route, over a 38-month-period. Transpedicular fixation devic
es [posterior segmental fixator (PSF) or variable screw placement syst
em (VSP)] were applied in all cases, in order to achieve short-segment
fusion of the fractured spinal segment. Return to useful motor power
or neurological normality (median follow-up: 18.7 months) occurred in
22 cases (81% of the whole series), with this outcome resulting in all
but one of the cases with preoperative incomplete neurological defici
t. Postoperative encroachment of the spinal canal, degree of kyphotic
deformity, and reduction of the vertebral height showed statistically
significant differences compared with the corresponding preoperative v
alues.