OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the correction of kyphosis, of the vertebral body height and the reduction of the retropulsed fragments in the thoracolumbar burst fractures by means of ligamentotaxis. METHODS: retrospective study evaluating a total of 238 patients with thoracolumbar A3 burst fractures based on the classification by Magerl et al., of which 63 were eligible to the research. All patients had been treated with pedicular internal fixation and had previous and postoperative radiographs and computed tomographic images. RESULTS: the study evidenced an immediate postoperative correction of vertebral kyphosis in the fracture site in 87% of the cases, with correction of 51% in the vertebral body height and reduction of 40% the intra-canal retropulsed fragments. CONCLUSIONS: the use of internal fixation by anterior approach allows, through ligamentotaxis, the restoration of the height of the vertebral body fracture, of the sagittal alignment of the column and spinal canal decompression, thus minimizing the comorbidities in relation to the surgery by anterior approach and laminectomy to canal decompression.
Spinal fractures; Kyphosis; Longitudinal ligaments; Internal fixators
