The primary indications for anterior approach in vertebral surgery
include the conditions associated with the destruction of one or more vertebral
bodies and intervertebral discs, vertebral fractures, and deformities.
Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome of the anterior surgical
approach in the management of lesions of the thoracolumbar area.
Study Design: A retrospective clinical case study and a literature review.
Patients and Methods: Between January 2007 and January 2011 a total of 15
patients admitted and surgically treated for thoracolumbar spine lesion. All
patients underwent anterior thoracolumbar fixation surgery. Data were analyzed
retrospectively. The outcome was evaluated with (ASIA) scale after three months, six
months and one year following surgery. Plain x-Ray both anteroposterior and lateral
views and 3D Computed Tomography were done postoperatively.
Results: Fifteen patients, 10 males and 5 females with ages ranging from 17 to 70
years were included in this study. They were operated upon for traumatic fracture
in 10 patients and TB spondylodiscitis in 5 patients in the thoracolumbar area. The
average operative time was 4 hours. The average postoperative hospitalization was
14.5 days. According to ASIA; patients grade A (N=5), and E (N=2) remained the
same post-operatively, whereas, of the other patients with incomplete cord lesion
(N=8), six improved one grade and two did not improve. The preoperative segmental
kyphosis improved postoperatively at the three-month visit from a mean of 26.2o to
a mean of 11o.