Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the long term-results after thoracoscopic spondylodesis particularly with respect to a ventral versus dorso-ventral treatment strategy.
Methods: In this prospective cohort study, a follow-up examination was performed in 19 patients (seven men, 12 women, average age: 37.7 years, follow-up rate: 79 %), six years after ventral thoracoscopic spondylodesis of unstable, incomplete burst fractures. Nine patients received a ventral monosegmental spondylodesis with iliac crest bone graft. The other ten cases were treated dorso-ventrally, five undergoing a ventral monosegmental treatment with iliac crest bone graft; the other five a ventral bisegmental treatment with expandable titanium cage.
Results: The complication rate was 15.7 %, the rate of revision of 10.5 %. No complication was related to the ventral thoracoscopic approach, whereas all of them were related to the iliac crest bone graft. The operative bisegmental kyphotic reduction was higher in the dorso-ventrally treated group. Afterwards, the loss of reduction was similar in both study groups. The mean VAS spine score summed up to more than 80 in both groups. The mean PCS scores were comparable to a normal healthy collective of the same age.
Conclusions: The ventral thoracoscopic approach to the spine seems to be a safe therapeutic strategy. A dorso-ventral treatment concept goes along with a higher operative reduction potential.