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Figure 3 | World Journal of Emergency Surgery

Figure 3

From: ATLS® and damage control in spine trauma

Figure 3

Minimal-invasive percutaneous instrumentation and secondary anterior surgery in a polytraumatized patient with burst fracture of T12. This is a case of a 32 year old male patient following a motor bike accident. The patient suffered from hematopneumothorax, intracapsular rupture of the liver, humeral head fracture and moderate traumatic brain injury resulting in an ISS of 34. Following primary survey and whole body CT-Scan, the patient was transferred to the OR. A chest tube was inserted and the patient was positioned prone for primary stabilization of the type A3.3 fracture of T12 (images A-D). Closed reduction and percutaneous pedicle insertion allowed quick surgery (45 minutes) and limited surgery related injury without substantial blood loss and excessive antigen load as compared to conventional open stabilization (images E-F). After uneventful recovery, definitive anterior surgery using a thoracoscopy assisted approach was performed on day 7 post trauma (images G-H). Follow-up at 24 months shows good operative result of the bisegmental fusion (images I-J).

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