Treatment of Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures: Percutaneously Placed Pedicle Screws Versus Open Treatment

Inclusion Criteria

• •All patients from ages 18 and older who present to Allegheny General Hospital with an acute thoracolumbar fracture will be considered eligible for the study (i.e. \<3 weeks from trauma date).
• •Minor fractures around the fracture site or compression fractures will be permitted if they do not require treatment
• •For the purposes of the study, patients must be English-speaking and live within the 100 mile radius from the greater Pittsburgh area for consent and follow-up purposes
• •Patients who cannot safely undergo brace treatment due to comorbidities such as obesity, pulmonary injury, elderly status, reliability, and multitrauma
• •Patients must have Type A or Type B1,B2 thoracolumbar fracture (must be able to correct deformity through percutaneous instrumentation)