Fifty @entity1 (14-55 years of age) with unstable thoracolumbar @entity174 were studied: 24 @entity1 treated conservatively 1971-1977 and 26 @entity1 treated surgically with Harrington instrumentation 1977-1981. The treatment groups were comparable in all respects. Radiologic evaluation showed that Harrington distraction rods restored the fractured vertebra almost to its original shape, and the gibbus and @entity1635 were significantly reduced. However, at the follow-up examination at least 2 years after the injury, the gibbus angle had recurred almost to the value at admission in @entity1 with the rods removed. The conservatively treated @entity1 showed a continuous increase of the gibbus angle and of the anterior and central vertebral compression. At the follow-up evaluation, all @entity174 in both treatment groups were healed. There was no difference between the treatment groups regarding neurologic improvement. Thirteen of 14 @entity1 with severe or moderate paraparesis considerably improved their neurological status. A rehabilitation index with special reference to paraparetic @entity1 showed no difference between the treatment groups already three months after the injury. Thoracolumbar fatigue, @entity158 and @entity2693 , skin problems, and @entity158 at direct pressure at the @entity174 site occurred equally in the conservative and Harrington groups. The overall complications were few. The aseptic intermittent catheterization method introduced in 1977 considerably diminished the frequency of upper @entity293 . The treatment with open reduction, fusion, and stabilization with Harrington rods considerably reduced the immobilization and hospitalization times. The average immobilization time was reduced from 67 to 18 days. The hospitalization time in neurologically intact @entity1 was reduced from 80 to 30 days.

Unstable thoracolumbar XXXX . A comparative clinical study of conservative treatment and Harrington instrumentation.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity174 :: ('MESH:D050723', 'Disease') :: ['fractures', 'fracture'] @entity1635 :: ('MESH:D012600', 'Disease') :: ['scoliosis'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain', 'thoracolumbar pain'] @entity293 :: ('MESH:D014552', 'Disease') :: ['urinary tract infections'] @entity2693 :: ('MESH:C566112', 'Disease') :: ['stiffness']
@entity174 :: (MESH:D050723,Disease) :: ['fractures']
