OBJECTIVETo investigate the surgical therapeutic result of thoracolumbar fracture treated by two minimally invasive surgery or by traditional open operation.

METHODSFrom June 2004 to April 2010, 76 patients (45 males and 31 females, with an average age of 36.4 years, ranging from 21 to 58 years) with thoracolumbar fracture were divided into three groups. In group A, 24 patients were treated with minimally invasive internal fixation by endoscope. In group B, 20 patients were treated by Sextant percutaneous pedicle screws fiaxation. In group C, 32 patients were performed with traditional open fixation surgery. The perioperative index and radiographic factor were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSAll patients were followed-up for 1 year in average. The internal fixation devices were taken out averaged 1 year after operation,there were no complications related to the internal fixaton systems. The perioperative index of groups A and B including the incision size, surgical blood loss, surgical draining loss, hospital stay time and post-operation VAS score were significant smaller than group C (P < 0.05). The Cobb's angle, sagittal index, and anterior height of the fracture vertebral body were all significantly different between pre-operation and post-operation in each group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese two methods of minimally invasive surgical treatments are effective and safe for patients with thoracolumbar fracture,because of less damage to muscles, less blood loss and quicker recovery, compared to the traditional open operation.