Ilizarov External Fixator for Burst Fracture of the Lumbar Spine: A Case Report

• Published in: Journal of orthopaedic surgery (Hong Kong) Vol. 15; no. 3; pp. 380 - 383
• Main Authors: Matsubara, H, Tsuchiya, H, Kawahara, N, Kobayashi, T, Morinaga, T, Tomita, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.12.2007; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Back surgery; External Fixators; Fractures; Humans; Ilizarov Technique - instrumentation; Lumbar Vertebrae - injuries; Male; Middle Aged; Patients; Spinal Fractures - surgery; Spine; Tomography; lumbar vertebrae; external fixators; spinal fractures; Ilizarov technique
• ISSN: 1022-5536; 2309-4990
• DOI: 10.1177/230949900701500329

A 50-year-old man presented with severe back pain and tenderness throughout the lumbar area after falling from a ladder. He had an unstable type-B burst fracture, with a spinal canal narrowing of 36% and an anterior height loss of 65%. His lower-limb neurological function was intact. An Ilizarov external spinal fixator was used; the pedicular half pins were inserted into the bilateral T11, T12, L2, and L3 pedicles; bilateral pedicular half pins were fixed at each level with external plates and rods. Postoperatively, the patient had a lordosis of 2° and was able to walk 7 days later. The external fixator was removed at 10 weeks. Six years and 10 months after surgery, the patient had a kyphosis of 19° that did not affect his activities of daily living.