NCT03952182

Effect of Bracing Versus No Bracing in Stable Thoracolumbar Compression and Burst Fractures

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1 (actual)
• Sponsor: St. Louis University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Spinal orthoses have been used in the treatment of non-operative thoracic and lumbar fractures with much success. However, there has been increasing questioning as to wether or not the orthotics are necessary to have a good overall outcome. Being fitted for and acquiring braces are associated with great expense and increased hospital stays. The purpose of this study is to determine wether or not braces are required for good outcome post thoracic or lumbar fracture.

Detailed description

Several tens of patient's per year come to the Emergency Department with thoracolumbar spine compression and burst fractures that are not indicated for surgical fixation. Currently, these patients are treated non-operatively through brace wear which is either custom made for the patient or is off-the-shelf pending location of the fracture and surgeon preference. All braces are through the currently contracted orthotics company. As they are non stocked in house, waiting for the brace requires the patients to remain on "strict spine precautions" (flat bed rest in a Miami J collar, no pillows behind the head, and logrolls for turning) for anywhere from 24-48 hours. No only is this incredibly uncomfortable for the patient, it is also extending their hospital stay for at least one day and, sometimes, up to three as they wait for the brace and have it adjusted to fit appropriately. The patient's all have to then wait to work with physical therapy and occupational therapy and, finally, have upright spine films taken in the brace. The braces tend to be very uncomfortably and constricting for patient's and significantly inhibit their daily lives. The investigators are proposing that these fractures can be treated without needing bracewear and will have equivalent to superior outcomes than results while wearing the brace.

Conditions

• Thoracic Fracture
• Lumbar Fracture
• Compression Fracture of Thoracic Vertebral Body
• Compression Fracture of Lumbar Spine
• Burst Fracture of Thoracic Vertebra
• Burst Fracture of Lumbar Vertebra

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Spinal Orthosis (LSO, TLSO)	spinal orthosis prescribed for specific spinal fracture (TLSO for thoracic or high lumbar fracture, LSO for lumbar fracture)
OTHER	No orthosis	no orthotic given for spinal fracture. These patient's will be given a bending restriction

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-01-05
• Primary completion: 2020-03-15
• Completion: 2022-03-22
• First posted: 2019-05-16
• Last updated: 2022-03-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States