Clinical and radiological outcomes in thoracolumbar fractures using the SpineJack device. A prospective study of seventy-four patients with a two point three year mean of follow-up

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess clinical and radiological results of SpineJack on the treatment of vertebral body fractures in a continuous prospective series of patients. Material and methods Between May 2012 and April 2015, all patients operated using the SpineJack device were prospectively included in this monocentric study. Demographic data, clinical, and radiological results were recorded. Complications and surgical managements were recorded. Results At a mean follow-up of 2.3 years, 74 patients with 77 fractured vertebrae were included. The stand-alone SpineJack group comprised 60 patients with 63 fractured vertebrae (group 1) and the group with additional posterior fixation 14 patients with 14 fractured vertebrae (group 2). The average initial vertebral wedge angle was 13.3 +/- 6.1 degrees for group 1 and 15.3 +/- 5.7 degrees for group 2 (p = 0.25). Post-operative values were 6.5 +/- 4.6 degrees for group 1 and 5.1 +/- 3.9 degrees for group 2 (p = 0.31). The differences within the same group were highly significant (p < 0.0005). The loss of reduction at last follow-up was 0.8 +/- 1.6 degrees in group 1 and 0.6 +/- 2.0 degrees in group 2 (p = 0.77). Subjective results were considered as very good or good for 57 patients (95%) in group 1 and for 11 patients (79%) in group 2, p = 0.07. Conclusion The SpineJack seems to be a promising tool in the treatment of traumatic vertebral fractures with a correction in the sagittal plane comparable with what can be found in the literature.