Surgical approach and management outcomes for junction tuberculous spondylitis: a retrospective study of 77 patients

Junction tuberculous spondylitis involves the stress transition zone of the spine and has a high risk of progression to kyphosis or paraplegia. Problems still exist with treatment for spinal junction tuberculosis. This study investigated the surgical approach and clinical outcomes of junction spinal tuberculosis.

From June 1998 to July 2014, 77 patients with tuberculous spondylitis were enrolled. All patients received 2-3 weeks of anti-tuberculous treatment preoperatively; treatment was prolonged for 2-3 months when active pulmonary tuberculosis was present. The patients underwent anterior debridement and were followed up for an average of 29.4 months clinically and radiologically.

The cervicothoracic junction spine (C7-T3) was involved in 15 patients. The thoracolumbar junction spine (T11-L2) was involved in 39 patients. The lumbosacral junction spine (L4-S1) was involved in 23 patients. Two patients with recurrence underwent reoperation; the drugs were adjusted, and all patients achieved bone fusion. The preoperative cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar kyphosis angle and lumbosacral angle were 31.4 ± 10.9°, 32.9 ± 9.2°, and 19.3 ± 3.7°, respectively, and the corresponding postoperative angles were ameliorated significantly to 9.1 ± 3.2°, 8.5 ± 2.9°, and 30.3 ± 2.8°. The preoperative ESR and C-reactive protein level of all patients were 48.1 ± 11.3 mm/h and 65.5 ± 16.2 mg/L which decreased to 12.3 ± 4.3 mm/h and 8.6 ± 3.7 mg/L at the final follow-up, respectively. All patients that had neurological symptoms achieved function status improvement at different degrees.

For spinal tuberculosis of spinal junctions, anterior debridement, internal fixation, and fusion can be preferred and achieved. If multiple segment lesions are too long or difficult for operation of anterior internal fixation, combining posterior pedicle screw fixation is appropriate.