Objective: We have investigated the clinical and radiological early and late stage results of long segment posterior instrumentation and fusion in thoracic and lumbar burst fracture patients.

Material and Method: Patients treated only by posterior instrumentation and fusion due to thoracic and lumbar burst fracture between the years of 2008-2014 were studied retrospectively. Patients’ age, gender and etiology of fracture, Denis classification and the localization of the fractures were recorded. Patients with radiological images taken one year after surgery were included in this study. The radiological parameters were evaluated and calculated before surgery, one day following surgery and at least one year following surgery regarding loss of height in anterior corpus (LHAC), sagittal index (SI) and local angle of kyphosis (LAK). The obtained data was compared with late stage results.

Results: Thirty five patients included for the study. Mean age was 40.9 year. Mean follow-up period was 25 months. The mean values of LHAC before surgery, following surgery and 1-year later surgery were 0.44, 0.30 and 0.31 cm, respectively. Mean LAK was observed as 7.94° before the surgery, 2,86° following surgery and 4.49° at least one year later surgery. The mean SI value of the patients before surgery, following surgery and one year later surgery were 15.4, 9.71 and 11.14, respectively (p <0,001).

Conclusion: In the management of thoracic and lumbar burst fractures, long-segment posterior instrumentation and fusion is a safe and effective treatment modality because of radiological correction of the alignment in the sagittal plane with long follow-up period and satisfactory clinical results.