Fijaciones transpediculares toracolumbares percutáneas post-traumáticas: Experiencia de 68 casos Pre-pandemia en Hospital de Puerto Montt

Abstract

Introduction: Thoracolumbar fractures are typically traumatic injuries, often occurring in the context of car accidents or high- energy incidents. Objective: To determine the characteristics of minimally invasive percutaneous stabilization of traumatic dorsolumbar fractures performed at Puerto Montt Hospital from 2016 to pre-pandemic. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 68 patients admitted with traumatic thoracolumbar fractures who underwent percutaneous instrumentation over a 5-year period, from May 2016 to July 2020. Medical records were analyzed for age, gender, mechanism of injury, injured vertebral level, time scale from injury to surgical intervention, duration of the surgical procedure, instrumented levels, type of fracture, whether laminectomy was performed, and complications. Results: The average age was 51.57 years. Regarding gender, 43 (63%) of the patients were male. Mechanism of injury: Fall from height 37 (54%), Level falls 16 (24%), traffic accidents 14 (20.5%), direct impact 1 (1.5%). Fracture level: 38 (56%) pure lumbar fractures, 2 (3%) dorsal and lumbar fractures, 28 (41%) dorsal fractures, average intervention time of 3.55 days, with a 10% rate of short and medium-term complications. Conclusion: Percutaneous fixation in the treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine fractures is a good option in the surgical management of fractures, with clinical and functional outcomes comparable or better, faster recovery time, lesser postoperative pain, and lower complication rates. Correct surgical indication remains crucial in long-term follow-up and complications.