OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of the treatment of the lower lumbar fractures by posterior vertebral pedicle screw fixation, vertebral canal decompression,bone graft and titanium mesh reconstruction.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to December 2008, 22 patients with lower lumbar fractures were treated by posterior vertebral pedicle screw fixation, vertebral canal decompression, bone graft and titanium mesh reconstruction at same period. There were 18 males and 4 females with an average age of 43.8 years ranging from 22 to 63 years old. The injured vertebrae were L3 in 11 cases, L4, in 8 cases, and L5 in 3 cases. The operative time, blood loss, the preoperative and postoperative vertebral height,sagittal index, and the lumbar lordosis angle were recorded and evaluated.

RESULTSThe operative time was 3 to 4.2 hours (means 3.6 h). The blood loss averaged 1300 ml (900 to 1500 ml). The preoperative and postoperative sagittal index were (57.5 +/- 7.6)% and (93.5 +/- 8.1)%, respectively. The preoperative and postoperative lumbar lordosis angle were (34.3 +/- 7.3) degrees and (38.5 +/- 9.8) degrees, respectively. All patients were followed up for 10 months to 3 years (means 2.6 years). No fixation were failed,the segment of titanium mesh reconstruction obtained bone healing, no pseudoarticulation formation. At the last time of followed-up, 15 patients with nerve injuries were evaluated according to Frankel grade, there were 10 cases in grade E, 4 in D, 1 in C. According to the low back outcome scores (LBOS), the results were excellent in 20 cases, good in 1, fair in 1.

CONCLUSIONThe stability of the lower lumbar spine can be reconstructed by bone graft and titanium mesh combined with transpedicular screw fixation through a posterior approach. The decompression and vertebral body removal can also be performed in this approach. The recovery of the vertebral height and lumbar lordosis can prevent the delayed neurological deficit and traumatic kyphosis.