The cases of thirty-four patients with thoracolumbar lesions were
reviewed. The neural recovery rate was substantially the same as in
comprehensive reviews of surgical and conservative methods by Dickson et.
al. and Burke and Murray. We suggest that reduction and maintenance of
vertebral body displacement is the single most important factor in the
treatment of such fractures and fracture-dislocations. The loss of
correction of an angular deformity, however, does not prejudice neural
recovery or physical performance during and after rehabilitation. The
results of non-surgical methods in achieving reduction and maintenance of
displacement were comparable with the results of surgical methods. The
immobilization and hospitalization times were longer than in series that
used surgical methods.