Objective: to investigate the effect of CT-assisted limited decompression in the management of single segment A3 lumbar burst fracture.
Method: A retrospective study of 106 cases with a single-level Magerl type A3 lumbar burst fractures treated with short-segment posterior internal fixation and limited decompression from January 2015 to June 2019 was performed. Patients were divided into two groups: CT-assisted and non-CT-assisted. Perioperative factors, clinical outcomes, postoperative complications, imaging parameters and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were evaluated.
Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in the kyphosis, anterior vertebral body height loss, posterior vertebral body height loss, operative time, and postoperative complications. The visual analogue score (VAS) and spinal canal encroachment in the CT-assisted group were lower than those in the non-CT-assisted group (P < 0.05). The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (JOA), the simplified HRQoL scale and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Spinal Cord Injury Grade in the CT-assisted group were higher than those in the non-CT-assisted group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: CT-assisted limited decompression in the treatment of single-segment A3 lumbar burst fracture can achieve better fracture reduction and surgical results, and improve the long-term recovery of neurological function and quality of life of the patients.