The early diagnosis of mild spinal tuberculosis and outcomes of nonoperative treatment / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To set the criteria of mild spinal tuberculosis and investigate the ettect of standard chemotherapy regimen for further establishing the clinical classification of spinal tuberculosis and standardizing management.Methods According to the criterion,a total of 89 patients with mild spinal tuberculosis were enrolled for outpatient conservative management and follow-up.Ambulant treatments were carried out in all patients,including nutrition support and standard chemotherapy regimen.The regimen was consisting of four first-line antituberculosis drugs (rifampicin,isoniazid,ethambutol and pyrazinamide).All patients were followed up one month later,then every 3 months for the following 12 months,and subsequently at intervals of half a year.The clinical manifestations,kyphosis progression,neurological status,erythrocyte sedimentation rate and liver function were analyzed.Results A mean of 30.62± 13.20 (range,18-46) months' follow-up was achieved in 85 patients,whose tuberculosis lesions were cured completely.Another 4 patients,who were diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis later,had underwent surgery for progressive bone destruction and no response to chemotherapy.The mean visual analogue scale score and Cobb's angle was 5.6± 1.6 and 6.25°±3.11° before chemotherapy,and 2.1 ± 1.1 and 12.36° ±6.31 °at the last follow-up time,respectively.Signals of vertebral body and intervertebral disc returned to normal in 6 patients,while solid bony fusion of adjacent segment was achieved in 79 patients.Asymptomatic mild kyphosis was observed in 69 patients.2 patients with sinus before treatment all healed.No neurological deficit was found.Conculusion For patients early diagnosed with mild spinal tuberuclosis,standard chemotherapy regimen could work safely and effectively for healing the tuberculous lesion,avoiding surgery as well as preventing kyphosis,vertebral instability and neurological deficit.Mild spinal tuberculosis that was early diagnosed could be considered as a subtype of spinal tuberculosis.