The reverse thomas position for thoracolumbar fracture height restoration: relative contribution of patient positioning in percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty for acute vertebral compressions

Abstract

Background Standard positioning for percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty requires placing a patient prone with supports under the iliac crests and upper thorax. The authors believe that hip hyperextension maximises pelvic anteversion creating anterior longitudinal ligamentotaxis, thus facilitating restoration of vertebral height. Methods Radiographic imaging including pre-operative, post-positioning, post balloon tamp inflation and post-operative lateral radiographs were analysed for anterior and posterior column height, wedge angle of the affected vertebra and 3-level Cobb angle in patients with recent fractures of T11-L1. Fracture dimensions of the index vertebra were expressed as percentage of the analogous dimension of the referent vertebra. Results From a total of 149 patients, a full imaging sequence was available on 21 cases of vertebral compression fractures. The described positioning technique created a mean anterior column height increase from 68.3% to 75.3% with positioning (p = 0.15), increasing to 82.3% post balloon inflation. Average Cobb and wedge angle improvement of 4.7 degrees (p= 0.004) and 3.6 degrees (p= 0.002) from positioning along were also recorded. Conclusion The Reverse Thomas Position is a safe and effective technique for augmenting thoracolumbar fracture height restoration in percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty.