Debridement and interbody fusion by a single posterior approach for the treatment of lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of a single posterior translaminal or transforaminal debridement and internal fixation with bone graft for the treatment of lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis. Methods From January 2004 to October 2009, 32 patients with lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis were treated by a single posterior debridement and internal fixation with bone graft, including 21 males and 11 females with the mean age of 46 years (range, 32-65). The lesions located: 3 in L3,4, 19 in L4,5, 10 in L5S1. 20 cases were pedormed operation via translaminal approach, 12 via transforaminal approach. The modified Prolo scale, visual analogue scale (VAS), kyphosis angle and the vertebral body loss were measured before and after surgery, and in the final follow-up. Results All the patients were followed up for average 16 months (range, 12-24). The pre-, postoperative and final follow-up mean kyphosis angle were -24.3°,-34.8°, and -32.4° in the translaminal group, -25.4°, -35.2°, and 33.6° in the transforaminal group,respectively. According to the modified Prolo scale, the excellent and good result was 93.8%. VAS decreased significantly from 7.6 points to 2.9 after surgery. Conclusion Debridement and internal fixation with bone graft via a single posterior approach for the treatment of lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis was an easy and effective technique. The appropriate selection of indications, careful imaging evaluation and thorough surgical debridement played an important role in the treatment of lumbosacral regional spinal tuberculosis. Key words: Lumbosacral region; Tuberculosis,spinal; Treatment outcome