Treatment of Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures: Percutaneously Placed Pedicle Screws Versus Open Treatment

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients from ages 18 and older who present to Allegheny General Hospital with an acute thoracolumbar fracture will be considered eligible for the study (i.e. \<3 weeks from trauma date). * Minor fractures around the fracture site or compression fractures will be permitted if they do not require treatment * For the purposes of the study, patients must be English-speaking and live within the 100 mile radius from the greater Pittsburgh area for consent and follow-up purposes * Patients who cannot safely undergo brace treatment due to comorbidities such as obesity, pulmonary injury, elderly status, reliability, and multitrauma * Patients must have Type A or Type B1,B2 thoracolumbar fracture (must be able to correct deformity through percutaneous instrumentation) Exclusion Criteria: * Patients presenting with a neurologic deficit * Patients who receive a laminectomy for decompression of the neural elements * Patients who have a significant head injury * Oncologic patients * Women who were found to be pregnant or breast feeding at any point during their admission, hospital stay, treatment, or clinical follow-up. * Individuals who are currently incarcerated. * Adolescents under 18 years of age. * Patients who have a relative contraindication to operative treatment will be excluded - infection, skin disease, bleeding disorder, etc.