Objective To evaluate the radiographic and CT findings and its diagnostic value of burst fracture of thoracolumbar spine.Methods The features of the frontal and lateral X-ray films and CT in 45 cases of burst fracture of thoracolumbar spine were reviewed.Results Among 45 cases there were type A in 15 cases,type B in 18 cases,type D in 7 cases and type E in 5 cases,three-column injury in 24 cases,two-column injury in 21 cases,the spinal canal narrowing:0?in 5 cases,Ⅰ?in 18 cases,Ⅱ?in 20 cases,Ⅲ?in 2 cases;the line of the posterior rim of the vertebral body being abnormity in 33 cases.Conclusion In examination of thoracolumbar burst fracture,both X-ray films and CT scan are of their own advantages and disadvantages,and they are only in combinodion with each other to improve the accurate diagnostic rate.

BACKGROUND:Titanium mesh is a new type of bone graft supports used for the treatment of spine, especial y the cervical spine disorders at home and abroad in recent years. But, at present, how to improve the cervical lordosis curvature during anterior surgery is the difficulty for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of straight titanium mesh and individual designed titanium mesh used in the bone graft fusion and internal fixation on the recovery of cervical curvature and Japanese Orthopaedic Association score during anterior cervical subtotal vertebrectomy in the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
METHODS:Forty-three patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with surgical indications of subtotal vertebrectomy and decompression internal fixation were included, and the patients were divided into two groups according to different internal fixation methods. There were 15 cases in the individual designed titanium mesh group and 28 cases in the straight titanium mesh group. The preoperative anteroposterior X-ray films of the cervical spine of al the patients were as the blank control group. The clinical data of the patients in two groups were retrospectively analyzed, and the postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, cervical curvature, intervertebral angles and intervertebral height were compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The cervical lordosis angle and the intervertebral angle of surgery segment in the individual designed titanium mesh group were improved when compared with those in the straight titanium mesh group and the blank control group (P<0.01), and the straight titanium mesh group was better than the blank control group (P<0.05). The intervertebral height of surgery segment in the individual designed titanium mesh group and the straight titanium mesh group was increased for 3.69 mm and 3.22 mm respectively when compared with that in the blank control group, and there was significant difference between individual designed titanium mesh group and the straight titanium mesh group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in Japanese Orthopaedic Association score between individual designed titanium mesh group and the straight titanium mesh group (P>0.05). During subtotal vertebrectomy for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, cutting titanium mesh into trapezoidal shape to simulate the normal disc shape of former high to low can effectively restore the physiological curvature of cervical spine and the intervertebral height of surgery segment.