Contoured Harrington instrumentation in the treatment of unstable spinal fractures: the effect of supplementary sublaminar wires

Twenty-nine patients with major fractures and fracture-dislocations of the thoracic and lumbar spine were treated by spinal fusion and contoured Harrington distraction instrumentation. Two groups of patients were identified. Group I (16 patients) had sublaminar wires. Group II (13 patients) had no wiring. Satisfactory alignment was achieved in all patients. There were several complications in both groups. None of the patients in Group I had postoperative cast immobilization. The addition of sublaminar wiring appears to eliminate the need for rigid external immobilization and is beneficial only for patients who cannot tolerate body casts. This technique is a disadvantage, however, when a short-length fusion is desired.