Spine Fractures
Anatomy
The human spine is made of 24 spinal bones, called vertebrae. Vertebrae are stacked on top of one another to create the spinal column. The spinal column gives the body its form. It is the body’s main upright support. The main section of each vertebra is a large, round structure called a vertebral body. Compression fractures cause this section of bone to collapse. When the fracture is due to osteoporosis, it usually occurs in the lower part of the thoracic spine, near the bottom of the rib cage.
A bony ring attaches to the back of each vertebral body. When the vertebrae are stacked on one another, the bony rings form a hollow tube. This tube, or canal, surrounds the spinal cord. The spinal cord is like a long wire made of millions of nerve fibers. Just as the skull protects the brain, the bones of the spinal column protect the spinal cord. Spinal fracture (or vertebral fracture) is a fracture affecting the bones of the spinal column. these are cervical, dorsal, lumber fractures & osteoporotic fractures. A spinal fracture is a serious injury.
Cause
Cervical fractures usually result from high-energy trauma, such as automobile crashes or falls. Athletes are also at risk. A cervical fracture can occur if :
This technique benefits to the patient in terms of reduced post operative pain, increased post operative comfort, reduced hospital stay, quicker return to normal physical activities and ultimately a quicker return to work. Improved cosmesis and reduced wound complications associated with large scars are also major advantages associated with this technique.
Role of minimal invasive surgery in trauma & fractures or list of some of the minimally invasive surgical procedures we offer. hospitalization.
- Fractures near the joint, particularly the knee (proximal tibia and distal femur) and ankle, are best treated with this approach
- Simple fractures of the distal tibia are amenable to minimally invasive surgery
- Obese patients may also benefit because open procedures in these patients require large incisions.
- Works best in periarticular, communiuted fractures.
- Patients needing particularly long plates are also good candidates for this type of surgery. The fracture needs to be able to be reduced without direct manipulation or visualization
- Proximal femur fractures are also amenable to this type of fixation in some situations.
- Percutanous fixation of small bones, like undisplaced greater tuberosity, undisplaced fracture lower end radius etc
- Pediatric long bone fixation-TENS nailing in tibia, femur etc.
- A minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique (MIPO) using a locking compression plate (LCP) has been used widely in trauma cases. Its advantages are that the MIPO technique does not interfere with the fracture site and thus provides improved biological healing and that the LCP has excellent angular stability, while open reduction and rigid fixation by classic plates in the is requiring large incisions with important deperiostation. Potential complications are infections, consolidation delays and nonunions.
Difficulties of using a minimally invasive approach to treating fractures?
The biggest problems we see are malreductions, particularly concerning length and rotation. Additionally, some more simple fracture patterns are not reduced or stabilized sufficiently to allow healing. Finally, these cases take longer and subject the patient and surgeon to more radiation that would occur in standard plating techniques.
Minimal Invasive Surgeries
This technique benefits to the patient in terms of reduced post operative pain, increased post operative comfort, reduced hospital stay, quicker return to normal physical activities and ultimately a quicker return to work. Improved cosmesis and reduced wound complications associated with large scars are also major advantages associated with this technique.
Role of minimal invasive surgery in trauma & fractures or list of some of the minimally invasive surgical procedures we offer. hospitalization.
- Fractures near the joint, particularly the knee (proximal tibia and distal femur) and ankle, are best treated with this approach
- Simple fractures of the distal tibia are amenable to minimally invasive surgery
- Obese patients may also benefit because open procedures in these patients require large incisions.
- Works best in periarticular, communiuted fractures.
- Patients needing particularly long plates are also good candidates for this type of surgery. The fracture needs to be able to be reduced without direct manipulation or visualization
- Proximal femur fractures are also amenable to this type of fixation in some situations.
- Percutanous fixation of small bones, like undisplaced greater tuberosity, undisplaced fracture lower end radius etc
- Pediatric long bone fixation-TENS nailing in tibia, femur etc.
- A minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis technique (MIPO) using a locking compression plate (LCP) has been used widely in trauma cases. Its advantages are that the MIPO technique does not interfere with the fracture site and thus provides improved biological healing and that the LCP has excellent angular stability, while open reduction and rigid fixation by classic plates in the is requiring large incisions with important deperiostation. Potential complications are infections, consolidation delays and nonunions.
Difficulties of using a minimally invasive approach to treating fractures?
The biggest problems we see are malreductions, particularly concerning length and rotation. Additionally, some more simple fracture patterns are not reduced or stabilized sufficiently to allow healing. Finally, these cases take longer and subject the patient and surgeon to more radiation that would occur in standard plating techniques.