Treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures: extended follow-up of a randomized clinical trial comparing orthosis versus no orthosis

36 patients with an isolated AO type A3 burst fracture from T10-L3 with no neurological deficit who had been a part of an original randomized controlled trial were included in this study as part of a long-term follow-up. The original trial evaluated the use of an adjustable thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) in combination with physiotherapy to early ambulation (physiotherapy) without an orthosis. The results of the original study found that the use of a TLSO was equivalent to no orthosis. The results of this 5-10 year follow-up indicated that both treatment methods were safe and effective, with the use of the TLSO producing similar disability, pain, satisfaction, and kyphosis outcomes after 5-10 years when compared to patients managed with physiotherapy alone.