Prevention and treatment to complications of anterior approach for thoracolumbar burst fractures

Objective To analyze the causes of complications following anterior approach on thoracolumbar burst fractures,and to develop prevention measures and treatment.Methods 67 cases were treated through anterior approach for thoracolumbar burst fractures.These cases had been taken measures to prevent and treat complications respectively.Results Complications occurred in 28 cases(40 cases) out of 67 patients,accounting for 41.8%,among which 25 cases(62.5% of total) with postoperative abdominal distension,5 with symptom of nerve root,accounting for 12.5%,4 with intraoperative massive haemorrhage,accounting for 10%,2 with pleura rupture and pneumothorax,accounting for 5%,1 with lower-limb venous thrombosis,accounting for 2.5%,1 with cerebrospinal fluid leakage,accounting for 2.5%,1 with diaphragm spasm,accounting for 2.5% and 1 with deterioration of spinal cord injury,accounting for 2.5%.All the patients suffered from complications had been cured except 1 case with deterioration of spinal cord injury.Conclusions The main causes of the postoperative complications have relationship with the specificity of the anterior approach,and surgical manipulation.