Objective To assess the clinical effect and methods of posterior decompress and fixation for upper-middle thoracic fracture and dislocation. Methods Between September 2002 and September 2007,21 patients suffered from upper-middle thoracic fracture and dislocation were treated with posterior approach, which comprising 5 patients with compressed fracture,4 patients with burst fracture, 12 patients with fracture and dislocation. There were 12 cases companied by complete paraplegia, and 9 cases companied by incomplete paraplegia. All cases adapted to pedicle screw fixation system after decompression and reduction. Reduction or removal of fragments was done through posterior-lateral of the spinal canal for patients with fragments migrated into the spinal canal. The operation time,blood loss volume,preand postoperative transverse displacement degree and angle of the injured vertebra were recorded. The neurological function was assessed by Frankel criteria. Results The patients was followed up for (2.5 ± 0.5 ) years. The Frankel score increased from ( 1.0 ± 0.1 ) scores preoperatively to ( 1.3 ± 0.1 ) scores postoperatively. The incomplete paraplegia patients' score increased from (2.2 ± 0.2) scores preoperatively to (3.1± 0.2) scores postoperatively. The height of injured vertebral body, the interangle of vertebral body and spondylolistheses after operation increased comparing with those before operation(P ＜ 0.05 ). No implant loosening or breakage was found. Conclusions Severe spinal cord injury occurs in upper-middle thoracic fracture and dislocation.Unstable fracture should be treated with internal fixation and fusion in time. Decompression ought to be done in patients who suffering from incomplete paraplegia. Early operation takes advantages of immediate stability and a good improvement of the neurologic function.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of mountain-burning fire acupunctureat point Yongquan(KI1)in treating spinal cord injury.MethodThirty patients with spinal cord injury were randomly allocated to observation and control groups, 15 cases each. The control group received modern rehabilitation therapy and the observationgroup, mountain-burning fire acupuncture at point Yongquan plus exercise rehabilitation therapy.ResultThe total efficacy rate was 93.3% in the observation group and 73.3% in the control group. The total efficacy rate increased significantly in the observation group and was significantly higher than in the control group(P<0.05).ConclusionMountain-burning fire acupuncture at point Yongquan has a marked therapeutic effect on spinal cord injury and effectively improves urinary and fecal voiding, sexual and limb motor functions in the patients.