Some Complications of Common Treatment Schemes of Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures Can Be Predicted With Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

An unfavorable outcome in the conservative group was related to the progression of kyphosis, which in most cases was predictable with the use of trauma MRI findings concerning the endplate comminution and vertebral body involvement. In the operatively treated group, recurrence of the kyphotic deformity was predictable by the lesion of the posterior longitudinal ligamentary complex together with endplate comminution and vertebral body involvement as seen on trauma MRI. The authors recommend the use of MRI to develop reliable prognostic criteria for these injuries.