Double approach – transthoracic and dorsal – in case of a serious thoraco-lumbar spine injury

Written by Melinte M. Răzvan, Török Barna, Ivănescu Adrian, Serac Gabriel

Based on a specific clinical case of a serious thoraco-lumbar spine injury, the autors draw attention on the treatement possibilities and the possible complications which may occur when such a treatement is applied. One of the patients suffers a severe thoraco-lumbar spine accident, level L1. The treatement used in this case consists of stabilizing the T11-L3 segment using a posterior approach and decompression by wide laminectomy, after which the patient follows a recovery program in a specialized center. Three months after the initial surgical procedure, the patient presents itself at the emeregncy room with a degraded osteosynthesis material. The patient undergoes another surgical intervention, which consisted in stabilizing the same segments, using this time a posterior approach at first, followed by a transthoracic one after. In the case of a severe thoracolumbar trauma, the double approach ensures an appropriate and long-lasting stabilization of the spine, which lowers the posibilities of a late kyphosis.

 

Keywords: thoracolumbar spine, laminectomy, transpedicular, transthoracic, decompresion


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