American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 145, Issue 6, 1229-1232
Copyright © 1985 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Intraoperative sonographic monitoring of reduction of thoracolumbar burst fractures
JP McGahan,
D Benson,
B Chehrazi,
JP Walter,
and
FC Wagner Jr
Intraoperative real-time sonography was used to monitor surgical reduction of acute thoracolumbar burst fractures in eight patients. Real-time sonography was performed after laminectomy through a saline-filled operative field using either a 5.0 or a 7.5 MHz transducer. Sonography was performed during Harrington rod distraction and during fracture reduction to confirm adequacy of decompression of the spinal canal. This technique is useful to monitor surgery and in defining adequate fracture reduction.