Remodeling of the spinal canal after thoracolumbar burst fractures

Thirty-one patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures, seven untreated, 16 treated nonoperatively, and eight treated operatively, were analyzed retro spectively and followed up for 3 to 7 years. The initial and final degrees of neurologic deficit and the stenotic ratio of the spinal canal were recor ded. Stenotic ratio significantly decreased from the first examination (ran ge, 12.3%-74.5%; average, 26.2%) to the final followup (range, 5.4%-46.5%; average, 19.2%), but there were no differences of the percentage of remodel ing between patients who were untreated and those treated nonoperatively an d operatively. The recovery rate was highly significantly related to the st enotic ratio at first examination. Nonoperative management may be considere d for treatment of patients who are neurologically intact or only slightly impaired with thoracolumbar burst fractures.