OBJECTIVE: Analyze the outcomes of anterior instrumentation for corpectomy and arthrodesis on patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures caused by osteoporosis, who underwent conservative treatment for at least seven months, without pain improvement. METHODS: Six elderly female patients were treated by anterior instrumentation for burst thoracolumbar fractures at a single level after, at least seven months from trauma, with corpectomy, using rib autograft and fixation with pedicular screws in adjacent levels. Pain was evaluated preoperatively by VAS and three weeks, three months, six months and one year after surgery. RESULTS: The patients present significant post-operative pain improvement, with great reduction in the use of analgesics. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest single anterior instrumentation as a treatment method for chronic burst fracture on patients with osteoporosis due to the low rate of complications and satisfactory outcomes.
Osteoporosis; Fracture; Thoracolumbar spine; Outcomes