The treatment for patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurological deficit or definite rupture of the posterior ligament complex is controversial and includes both surgical and non-surgical options. The aim of this study is to compare surgical to non-surgical treatment in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures without neurological deficit and/or definite rupture of the PLC.  

The SunBurst study is an international, multicentre, randomized controlled trial (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05003180). Currently all centres performing spine surgery in Sweden are involved and additional centres in Norway will join during 2022. Patients 18 to 66 years old with burst fractures from Th10 to L3 are eligible for the study. 202 patients will be randomized in a 1:1 relation to either surgical or non-surgical treatment. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and radiological data will be collected at the time of injury, after 3-4 months and after 1 year.  

Additional centres are welcome to join and can contact:  

Simon Blixt; simon.blixt@ki.se, MD, PhD-student, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital 

Paul Gerdhem; paul.gerdhem@ki.se, MD, PhD, Professor, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, +46-736-994409