Surgical treatment of thoracolumbar tuberculosis

Abstract

Introduction: Over last forty years a lot of changes has occurred in the diagnosis, medical treatment and surgical procedures in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. Objective: To study the functional outcome of surgical management of thoracolumbar tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: Twenty two patients with tuberculosis of thoraco-lumbar spine who underwent decompression and spinal instrumentation were included in this study.Pre-operative Clinical examination was performed and neurological status also evaluated. Kyphotic angle was measured using Cobb method and documented.The affected vertebral body is approached posteriorly, decompressed, infected bone and disc material evacuated. Pedicle screws fixed to the spine.All patients were seen at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery.At each follow- up evaluation, plain radiographic studies were obtained to determine the fusion status, progression of deformity after surgery, and instrumentation failure. Results : out of the 22 patients 17 patients were in the age group of 21 to 60 with mean age of 45.5 years.10 patients(45.5%) with tuberculosis in the thoracic spine of which 6 were in single level, 3 were in two levels and one was in three levels . There were 8 (36.4%) patients with tuberculosis at thoraco-lumbar level(T11 to L2).