One-stage anterior debridement,bone grafting and internal fixation treating thoracolumbar tuberculosis

Objective To discuss the clinical efficacy in treatment of thoracolumbar tuberculosis with one-stage anterior debridement,bone grafting and internal fixation.Method Fifty-four cases with thoracolumbar tuberculosis received regular antituberculosis therapy for 2 to 4 weeks preoperative.All the cases were treated with one-stage debridement,decompression,bone grafting and internal fixation.All the cases lay in bed for 4 to 8 weeks, and the regular chemotherapy was continued for 12 to 18 months or so.Pain relieve,neurological function,bone fusion,kyphosis deformity and recurrence of tuberculosis were observed.Results These patients were followed up for 3.5 years in average(ranging from 1 to 4 years),tuberculosis was successful healed.Eighteen cases with neurological dysfunction have recovered,all cases acquired bone fusion,and no internal fixation lost.There was no recurrence of spinal turberculosis or loss of Cobb angulation.Conclusion One-stage anterior debridement,bone grafting and internal fixation can guaranty the recovery of spinal cord and spine stability,reduce the recurrence rate of tuberculosis.