WORK STATUS AFTER POSTERIOR FIXATION OF UNSTABLE BUT NEUROLOGICALLY INTACT BURST FRACTURES OF THORACOLUMBAR SPINE

Thirty nine patients with unstable burst injuries of the thoracolumbar junction who did not suffer neurological injury have been prospectively followed. There were 24 males and 15 females. Five patients were covered under the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB). The average patient age was 34 years (14-66). All patients were stabilised using the AO 'Fixateur Interne' and posterior fusion. The post-operative instrumented sagittal curve averaged six degrees of lordosis (- 20 to + 20). The length of follow-up averaged 24 months (range 12-24). Pre-operatively 28 patients were employed, 2 were housewives, 6 were students, and 3 were unemployed. At follow-up, all students and housewives had returned to their usual activities. No patient who was initially unemployed had found work. Of the remaining 28 patients who were employed before injury, 23 (82%) had returned to gainful employment, one had returned to school for job retraining, and 5 had not returned to work. Of the 23 patients who had returned to work, 5 returned to lighter duties, and 18 returned to their original occupation. Only 2 of the 5 WCB-covered patients did not return to work. Most neurologically intact patients undergoing surgery for unstable bursting injuries of the thoracolumbar spine can return to work.