Epidemiology and 12-Month Outcomes of Patients Managed in a Thoracolumbosacral Orthosis After Trauma

Introduction Traumatic fractures of the thoracolumbar junction (T10-L3) are the most common fractures of the spinal column. The management of these injuries can be operative or nonoperative, and braces are often used, including the Boston Overlap Brace (BOB), a type of thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TSLO). Methods All patients admitted to the Alfred Hospital in 2015 and managed in a BOB for 2- or 3-column thoracolumbar burst fractures (without neurology) were included in the study. In-hospital and 6- and 12-month patient-reported outcome measures were collected. A random-effects regression model analysis for each outcome (self-reported) pain and functional outcome measures by the Glasgow Outcomes Scale-Extended (GOS-E) was undertaken. Results A total of 115 patients (62 male) were included with a median age of 53 years. Using a random-effects model, having a lower-limb fracture or a regional kyphosis angle >8 degrees was associated with not having a good recovery after taking into account all other factors with a univariate relationship with this outcome. In terms of the outcome of self-reported pain, only female sex was associated with reporting pain. Conclusions This study included a large cohort of patients with management of a traumatic fracture with a BOB-type TLSO and provided information that should guide a larger study to review whether the factors associated with poorer outcome, including female sex and local kyphotic angle, need to be considered before deciding on the management of these fractures. Clinical Relevance The association between degree of deformity of fracture (>8 degrees) and associated lower-limb injury with poorer patient outcomes may need to be taken into account before deciding to manage thoracolumbar fractures with a BOB-type TLSO although further longitudinal studies are required.