ArticleGlobal spine journal2022
Implant Removal Versus Implant Retention Following Posterior Surgical Stabilization of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Article in Global spine journal, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Removal or retention of minimally invasive screws in thoracolumbar fractures? Systematic review and case-control study.Acta neurochirurgica · 2023Pooled it
- Practical Application of the AO Spine Primary Infection Classification System: Clarifying Definitions, Borderline Cases and Common Misinterpretations.Global spine journal · 2026Review
- Implantation choices, fusion preferences and implant removal after fixation in C1-C2 fractures: An AO Spine Knowledge Forum expert survey.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026Article
- Minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma · 2026Review
- Is Implant Removal After Thoracolumbar Fracture Fixation Truly Necessary? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Radiological, Functional and Safety Outcomes.Global spine journal · 2026Review
- A step-by-step guide for systematic reviews and meta-analyses in spine surgery-study execution: a narrative review.Journal of spine surgery (Hong Kong) · 2025Review
- Removal versus Retention of Posterior Spinal Implants in Patients with Healed Thoracolumbar Fractures: Analysis of Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes-A Randomized Controlled Trial.Spine surgery and related research · 2025Article
- Thoracolumbar injuries: operative treatment: indications, techniques, timing and implant removal. Current practice.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2024Review
- Application of Multi-Rod Constructs for the Revision of Thoracolumbar Fractures.Orthopaedic surgery · 2024Article
- ESTES recommendation on thoracolumbar spine fractures : January 2023.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2024Review
- Describing an old trick in posterior thoracal and lumbar ımplant removal surgery: follow-up results for at least 10 years.European journal of medical research · 2024Article
- Usefulness of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation for Treatment of Lower Lumbar Burst (A3-A4) Fractures: Comparative Study with Thoracolumbar Junction Fractures.Indian journal of orthopaedics · 2023Article
- The Necessity of Implant Removal after Fixation of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures-A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2023Review
- Postoperative loss of correction after combined posterior and anterior spinal fusion surgeries in a lumbar burst fracture patient with Class II obesity.Surgical neurology international · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
STUDY
designSystematic review and meta-analysis.
objectivesTo compare biomechanical and functional outcomes between implant removal and implant retention following posterior surgical fixation of thoracolumbar burst fractures.
methodsA search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar and Cochrane Databases was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
resultsOf the 751 articles initially retrieved, 13 published articles pooling 673 patients were included. Meta-analysis revealed there was a statistically significant improvement in sagittal Cobb Angle by 16.48 degrees (9.13-23.83, p < 0.01) after surgical stabilization of thoracolumbar burst fractures. This correction decremented to 9.68 degrees (2.02-17.35, p < 0.01) but remained significant at the time of implant removal approximately 12 months later. At final follow-up, the implant removal group demonstrated a 10.13 degree loss (3.00-23.26, p = 0.13) of reduction, while the implant retention group experienced a 10.17 degree loss (1.79-22.12, p = 0.10). There was no statistically significant difference in correction loss between implant retention and removal cohorts (p = 0.97). Pooled VAS scores improved by a mean of 3.32 points (0.18 to 6.45, p = 0.04) in the combined removal group, but by only 2.50 points (-1.81 to 6.81, p = 0.26) in the retention group. Oswestry Disability Index scores also improved after implant removal by 7.80 points (2.95-12.64, p < 0.01) at 1 year and 11.10 points (5.24-16.96, p < 0.01) at final follow-up.
conclusionsIn younger patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures who undergo posterior surgical stabilization, planned implant removal results in superior functional outcomes without significant difference in kyphotic angle correction loss compared to implant retention.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.