Video-assisted thoracic surgery for tubercular spondylitis

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Spinal Tuberculosis Management
• Minimally Invasive Techniques

Background:

• Spinal tuberculosis (tuberculous spondylitis) is a significant cause of spinal deformity and neurological deficit.
• Traditional open surgical approaches for spinal tuberculosis can involve substantial morbidity.
• Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) offers a less invasive alternative for thoracic spinal pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of VATS in patients diagnosed with tubercular spondylitis of the dorsal spine.
• To assess the safety, efficacy, and complication rates of VATS for managing spinal tuberculosis.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 9 patients with diagnosed tubercular spondylitis underwent VATS.
• Surgical duration, blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay were recorded.
• Neurological status, kyphosis angle, pain scores (VAS), and functional outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at final follow-up.

Main Results:

• All patients achieved spinal fusion, with significant improvement in VAS pain scores (8.3 to 2).
• Neurological involvement improved, with only 2 patients showing Grade D power at follow-up.
• Patients undergoing bone grafting maintained spinal alignment, while those without showed an average 16° kyphosis increase.

Conclusions:

• VATS is a safe and effective surgical approach for managing spinal tuberculosis.
• The procedure is associated with decreased blood loss, reduced postoperative morbidity, and minimal complications.
• VATS facilitates good to excellent functional recovery and pain relief in patients with tubercular spondylitis.