Surgical treatment of tuberculous spondylitis: 50 patients followed for 2-8 years

We treated 50 adult patients with tuberculous spondylitis surgically and followed them for a mean of 5 (2-8) years. All had persistent back pain, 32 had neurologic deficit, and 13 had gibbus deformity. Anterior debridement and fusion were the main operative procedures. Additional posterior stabilization was performed in 14 patients who had loss of a vertebral body or for correction of severe kyphosis. 30 of the 32 patients with neurological impairment had an improvement of 1-3 Frankel's grades after operation. All patients had some relief of pain. Solid bony union of the fusion was found in 46 patients and 4 had nonunion after anterior operation only. The average correction of the kyphotic angle was 10 degrees.