ReviewJournal of clinical medicine2023
The Necessity of Implant Removal after Fixation of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures-A Systematic Review.
Review in Journal of clinical medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- 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
- Radiographic and Clinical Adjacent Segment Disease After Posterior Instrumented Fusion for Traumatic Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Vertebral Fractures.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- [Spontaneous facet joint fusion and stability assessment following isolated posterior internal fixation for lumbar burst fractures].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2026Article
- 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
- Open versus percutaneous short-segment posterior instrumentation in thoracolumbar junction burst fractures.Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES · 2025Article
- Biomechanical implications of femoral neck system removal following femoral neck fracture treatment in low bone mineral density conditions.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Article
- 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
- Individualization of implantable devices in Brazil.Revista brasileira de enfermagem · 2025Article
- Explantation of Pedicle Screws: When, Why, and How?Cureus · 2024Review
- Should the level of the posterior instrumentation combined with the intermediate screw be a short segment or a long segment in thoracolumbar fractures with fusion to the fractured segment?European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThoracolumbar burst fractures are a common traumatic vertebral fracture in the spine, and pedicle screw fixation has been widely performed as a safe and effective procedure. However, after the stabilization of the thoracolumbar burst fractures, whether or not to remove the pedicle screw implant remains controversial. This review aimed to assess the benefits and risks of pedicle screw instrument removal after fixation of thoracolumbar burst fractures.
methodsData sources, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Clinical trials.gov, were comprehensively searched. All types of human studies that reported the benefits and risks of implant removal after thoracolumbar burst fractures, were selected for inclusion. Clinical outcomes after implant removal were collected for further evaluation.
resultsA total of 4051 papers were retrieved, of which 35 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review, including four case reports, four case series, and 27 observational studies. The possible risks of pedicle screw removal after fixation of thoracolumbar burst fractures include the progression of the kyphotic deformity and surgical complications (e.g., surgical site infection, neurovascular injury, worsening pain, revision surgery), while the potential benefits of pedicle screw removal mainly include improved segmental range of motion and alleviated pain and disability. Therefore, the potential benefits and possible risks should be weighed to support patient-specific clinical decision-making about the removal of pedicle screws after the successful fusion of thoracolumbar burst fractures.
conclusionsThere was conflicting evidence regarding the benefits and harms of implant removal after successful fixation of thoracolumbar burst fractures, and the current literature does not support the general recommendation for removal of the pedicle screw instruments, which may expose the patients to unnecessary complications and costs. Both surgeons and patients should be aware of the indications and have appropriate expectations of the benefits and risks of implant removal. The decision to remove the implant or not should be made individually and cautiously by the surgeon in consultation with the patient. Further studies are warranted to clarify this issue. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: level 1.
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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.