During last 3.5 years we treated 17 patients with thoraco-lumbar spine injuries through the anterior cavitary approach. There were 16 men and 1 woman, at the age of 16–52 years. Falls (9 patients), motor vehicle accidents (6 patients), blunt injury to the lumbar region (1 patient) or gunshot wound of the lumbar region (1 patient) were the causes of the injury. Indications for and surgical technique of the anterior cavitary approach are discussed in details.
