Operative treatment of progressive deformity in spinal tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Spinal surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Infectious disease of the spine

Background:

• Tuberculosis of the spine (spinal TB) can lead to severe structural damage.
• Progressive kyphotic deformity and instability are common complications of advanced spinal TB.
• Conservative management is often insufficient for severe spinal TB cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the surgical outcomes for patients with severe spinal tuberculosis.
• To determine the necessity of combined anterior and posterior fusion for unstable spinal TB.
• To assess the efficacy of surgical instrumentation in correcting kyphotic deformities.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 14 patients with spinal tuberculosis.
• Surgical treatment involving anterior and posterior spinal fusion.
• Use of spinal instrumentation for stabilization.
• Assessment of kyphotic deformity and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• All 14 patients had disease affecting three or more vertebrae with anterior and posterior column involvement.
• Patients presented with progressive kyphotic deformity despite conservative treatment.
• Surgical intervention including anterior and posterior fusion with instrumentation was performed.
• This approach was deemed necessary for managing 'unstable' spinal TB.

Conclusions:

• Surgical treatment is indicated for spinal tuberculosis with significant vertebral involvement and instability.
• Combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation is essential for managing severe, progressive spinal TB.
• This surgical strategy effectively addresses instability and corrects kyphotic deformities in spinal TB.