As more combat veterans return to the United States with spinal cord injuries and conditions, surgeons are finding the best ways to treat them.
A new study published in Spine examines the two-year operative and clinical outcomes for service members with combat-related low lumbar burst fractures occurring at L3-L5. There were 24 patients included in the study with an average of 2.9 levels injured. There were 11 patients with neurological injury.
Here are five key notes:
1. The average days to surgery were 16.8 days and the average levels fused was 4.3. Fixation extended to the pelvis in four patients.
2. There were 14 patients — 61 percent — that reported at least one postoperative complication. Seven patients — 30 percent — required reoperation.
3. There were five patients with postoperative wound infection, five patients with deep venous thromboses and three patients with pulmonary emboli.
4. At the last follow-up, all the patients were separated from military service.
5. There were 10 patients with persistent bowel/bladder dysfunction, 15 patients with lower extremity motor deficits and 10 patients with documented persistent lower back pain. There were 19 patients with chronic pain and 18 still taking pain medication and/or muscle relaxers.