Table 2.

Exclusion Criteria for the AO Spine A3/A4 Study.

• Severe systemic disease that would exclude the patient from surgery

• Recent history of substance abuse

• Pregnancy or women planning to conceive within the study period

• Prisoner

• Participation in any medical device or medicinal product study within the previous month that could influence, the results of the present study

• Any neurological deficit associated with the fracture

• Spontaneous fractures due to pathologic processes or neoplasia

• Head injuries causing inability to cooperate during hospital admission

• Open or penetrating spinal lesion due to gun, stab, or projectile

• Prior spinal surgeries in thoracic or lumbar spine

• Additional musculoskeletal, head, or other injuries which would preclude rapid mobilization

• Multiple trauma or ISS >16

• Other co-morbidities precluding the patient to be considered as a surgical or non-surgical candidate

* ISS, Injury Severity Score; BMI, Body Mass Index; AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency.