Ilizarov External Fixator for Burst Fracture of the Lumbar Spine: A Case Report

• Main Authors: H Matsubara, H Tsuchiya, N Kawahara, T Kobayashi, T Morinaga, K Tomita
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2007-12-01
• Series: Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/230949900701500329

A 50-year-old man presented with severe back pain and tenderness throughout the lumbar area after falling from a ladder. He had an unstable type-B burst fracture, with a spinal canal narrowing of 36% and an anterior height loss of 65%. His lower-limb neurological function was intact. An Ilizarov external spinal fixator was used; the pedicular half pins were inserted into the bilateral T11, T12, L2, and L3 pedicles; bilateral pedicular half pins were fixed at each level with external plates and rods. Postoperatively, the patient had a lordosis of 2° and was able to walk 7 days later. The external fixator was removed at 10 weeks. Six years and 10 months after surgery, the patient had a kyphosis of 19° that did not affect his activities of daily living.