Abstract:Objective: To treat Denis type B lumbar burst fractures with symptoms of nerve injury by percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with the lateral iliocostalis approach for direct anterior decompression, and to evaluate the clinical effect and application value of this operation. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with single-segmental Denis type B lumbar burst fractures underwent this operation, involving L1-3 segments. At first, the patients underwent percutaneous three-segment fixation and anterior direct decompression by reduction or/and removal of fragments in spinal canal. Then, the posterolateral intermuscular approach for anterior direct spinal canal decompression started from the lateral side of the iliocostalis, passed through the gap between the iliocostalis and quadratus lumborum, and reached the posterior part of injured vertebra at the level of the upper endplate through the intervertebral foramen. The patients were followed up for 18 months, and the imaging and clinical efficacy were observed and evaluated. Results: All patients received the operation by this method. The mean operation time was (152.1±27.1) min, and the blood loss during the operation was (137.8±42.0) mL. According to the imaging makers, the Cobb angle of kyphosis recovered from (34.0°±6.2°) preoperatively to (9.7°±2.7°) 18 months after operation (P<0.05); the height ratio of the anterior edge of the injured vertebra, recovered from (43.3±9.4)% to (66.3±7.5)% (P<0.05); and the ratio of sagittal diameter of spinal canal, recovered from (54.7±8.3)% to (10.9±4.2)% (P<0.05). For the curative effect evaluation indexes, significant improvements in visual analogue scale (VAS) [(6.1±1.2) vs. (1.4±1.0), P<0.05], oswestry disability index (ODI) [(86.1±4.2) vs. (27.3±12.3), P<0.05], and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores were also notedly improved. Conclusion: Posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with lateral iliocostalis bypass for direct anterior decompression in the spinal canal is effective in the treatment of type Denis B lumbar burst fractures. The posterolateral intermuscular approach is minimally invasive and effective for anterior direct decompression of the spinal canal. This new operation has potential in clinical application.