Treatment of posttraumatic thoracolumbar fractures using SpineJack for vertebral body augmentation, a single-center retrospective, and observational cohort study of 226 cases.

Context: Thoracolumbar spine fractures are frequent and the treatments are debatable because of the lack of randomized control studies and of low number of patient series. Percutaneous Vertebral Body Augmentation using SpineJack prosthesis (SJPVBA) followed by bracing is an available mini-invasive technique. The aim of the study was to assess the imaging and functional results of the largest homogeneous cohort of SJPVBA.

Materials and methods: Every patient who sustained a posttraumatic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures treated by SJPVBA from the January 6, 2012, to January 6, 2020, was retrosepctively included. The main outcome measure was the height of the vertebral body (anterior/middle/posterior parts) on the sagittal computed tomography scan. The secondary outcome measures were a 11-point Likert scale for the pain and the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire for the quality of life. All the data were compared at different times: preoperative versus day after the procedure versus at least 3 months versus (if disposable) a long-term special consultation just before the publication.

Results: SPJVBA is a simple, quick (52-min-long on average) reliable, efficacious method to significantly improve the vertebral height (+3.5 mm and 4.3 mm of the anterior and middle vertebral heights, P < 10^-5), to correct kyphosis and relieve pain (-6.5/10 on the Likert scale for pain). We also showed that there is a significant vertebral height decrease between day 1 (-2.1 mm and - 0.7 mm of the anterior and middle vertebral heights, P < 10^-5 and 0.005, respectively) and 3 months but not between 3 months and the last consultation with a mean follow-up of 37 months (-0.1 mm and - 0.2 mm of the anterior and middle vertebral heights, P = 0.277 and 0.4289, respectively).

Conclusions: SPJVBA is a simple, quick, reliable, efficacious method to improve the vertebral height, to correct kyphosis and relieve pain.