Radical debridement and anterior spinal fusion for the treatment of spinal tuberculosis / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the radical debridement and anterior spinal fusion with strut graft for the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. Methods There were 78 cases in this series, 36 males and 42 females. The age was from 15 to 72 years, the mean was 47 years. The involved vertebral bodies were at 2 segments in 29 patients, at 3 segments in 41 patients and at more than 4 segments in 8 patients. The kyphosis was 13～92 degrees with a mean of 34 degrees. Radical debridement and spinal fusion with strut graft were used in all patients. In addition, the spine was instrumented in 3 cases for further stabilization. Strut grafts consist of ribs in 22 cases, iliums in 44 cases, iliums and ribs in 12 cases. Results The period of follow up lasted from 1 to 16 years with a mean of 5.2 years. 98.7% of the patients have good results and 97.4%have solid bony fusion. The kyphosis deformity was 5～62 degrees, the mean was 22 degrees. Conclusion The present results show that the radical debridement and anterior fusion with strut graft was effective for restoring the local anatomical alignment and the stability with high rate of solid bony fusion and lower rate of postoperative low back pain.