EFFECTS OF CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT ON SPINAL STABILITY IN UPPER LUMBAR VERTEBRAL FRACTURES: CLINICAL STUDY

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Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the functional recovery in patients with upper lumbar vertebral fractures treated with thoracolumbar orthoses and the possible instability that may develop in the spine at the end of this follow-up. Material and Methods: Patients with L1 or L2 vertebral fractures treated conservatively were included in the study. T12- L5 Cobb angle, T12 and S1 slope angles, disc heights, L1-L5 spine height, kyphosis angle of the fractured vertebra, Hounsfield Unit value of the fractured vertebra, and the height of the vertebra above and below the fractured vertebra were measured on the initial and post-treatment computed tomography images. “Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS)” scores were recorded at the end of the follow-up. Results: Initially measured T12-L5 Cobb angle, fractured vertebra height, and fractured vertebra subsidence rate were different from the values obtained at follow-up. The initial height of the fractured vertebra and the sagittal spinal canal diameter at the fracture level differed from follow-up values in female patients. Additionally, initial Hounsfield Unit and height values in fractured vertebrae measured in male patients differed from follow-up values. Conclusion: Conservative treatment in patients with a collapse rate of less than 20% could not preserve the T12-L5 Cobb angle and the height of the fractured vertebra; however, it could prevent an increase in the kyphosis angle and collapse rate of the fractured vertebra and a decrease in the height of the T12-L5 vertebral column. Moreover, KPS scores of 90 (70-100) in these patients suggested that they could benefit from this treatment.

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