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RF30#185

Rapid Fire

Predictors of Post-traumatic Kyphosis after Conservative Treatment: a Retrospective Analysis of 51 Thoracolumbar Fractures

Abdullah Al Mamun Choudhury

National Institute of Traumatology & Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), Dhaka

Conservative therapy is still an effective choice for stable thoracolumbar fractures without neurological damage. Late complications, such as progressive post-traumatic kyphosis, can cause discomfort, incapacity, and delayed surgery. Recent research reveals that while nonoperative therapy is safe, up to one-third of individuals may proceed to substantial kyphosis; identifying at-risk patients is crucial. Patients' age, fracture morphology, and initial alignment parameters are risk factors. Demographic, morphological, and radiological determinants of post-traumatic kyphosis in conservatively treated Bangladeshi thoracolumbar fractures are examined in this study. 51 acute thoracolumbar (T11-L2) fractures handled non-operatively at a Bangladeshi tertiary center between January 2023 and December 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Stable AO Type A fractures without neurological damage were included. Patient age, DEXA bone quality, first local kyphosis angle on standing lateral radiographs, anterior body compression %, load-sharing score, and both endplate involvement were gathered. The progression of local kyphosis greater than 10° from injury to final follow-up at least 12 months was considered post-traumatic. Independent predictors were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. 18 (35.3%) of 51 patients experienced substantial post-traumatic kyphosis. The cohort averaged 42.5 years (range 18-75). Older age (over 50), initial kyphosis angle over 20°, anterior body compression over 50%, and involvement of both endplates were risk factors for kyphosis progression in univariate analysis. An initial kyphosis angle of more than 20° and an age of more than 50 years were independent indicators of developing post-traumatic deformity on multivariate analysis. Patients with both risk factors were most often unsuccessful in treatment. A kyphosis angle above 20° and a patient age over 50 years strongly predicts post-traumatic kyphosis after conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures. When choosing patients for non-operative therapy, these risk factors should be evaluated, and patients with them should be closely monitored for early deformity progression. Risk-stratified conservative treatment may improve outcomes and reduce late deformity.

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