Objective: To investigate the soft tissue injuries including ligament and disc in the burst fractures of the thoracolumbar spine. Methods: Twenty patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures who had operated posteriorly from Jan 2004 to Dec 2006 were studied. For the evaluation of stability of soft tissue, we used the scheme described by Oner et al. Results: The MRI findings of anterior longitudinal ligament were grade 1 in 4, grade 2 in thirteen, and grade 3 in three. Those of posterior longitudinal ligament were grade 1 in eleven, grade 2 in six, and grade 3 in three. The findings of posterior ligament complex were grade 1 in two, grade 2 in two, grade 3 in six, and grade 4 in ten. The disc grade 1 was in eleven, grade 2 in six, grade 3 in two, grade 4 in one. The injuries of posterior ligament complex were confirmed intraoperatively. Conclusion: The MRI is useful to evaluate injury of soft tissue in thoracolumbar burst fractures. The neurologic status and the state of the posterior ligament should be integrated into future classification schemes of thoracolumbar spine fractures.
