THORACIC AND LUMBAR TRAUMA - RATIONALE FOR SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE FUSION TECHNIQUE

Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and instrumentation, tw o issues in the treatment of thoracic and lumbar remain contested: (1) the indications for surgical intervention; and (2) the optimal approa ch to obtain decompression, realignment, and fusion of the disrupted s egment (anterior, posterior, or combined). Choosing among the options requires the ability to define accurately the extent of the injury to both the structural and the neurologic elements of the spine as well a s an appreciation of the historic rationale of individual treatment me thods.