Unstable Burst Fracture Managed with XLIF and Posterior Instrumentation: Technical Note

Burst fractures are compression fractures of anterior and middle portions of spinal column. Surgical indications vary based on classification system but accepted that neurologic deficits with radiographic evidence of cord compression or unstable fracture patterns with progressive kyphosis require stabilization. Standard operative treatment for unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures has been corpectomy using various approaches. Corpectomy is morbid procedure with high blood loss and fusion of two or more vertebral levels. We propose a novel use of extreme lateral interbody fusion XLIF technique for treatment.