Single-stage Posterior Debridement Of Anterior Focus, Interbody Bone Allografting, Instrumentation In The Short-segment Thoracic Spinal Tuberculosis In The Elders

Objectives. To evaluate the outcome of one stage posterior radical debridement with spinal cord decompression and fusion with instrumentation in aged thoracic spinal tuberculosis patients compared with anterior radical surgery and Posterior instrumentationMethods. From January 2006 to December 2009,10 patients(group A) who had less bone destruction were treated with single stage radical debridement with spinal cord decompression and fusion with instrumentation that was supplemented with posterolateral bone fusion and chemotherapy.16 patients (group B) who had greater bone destruction were treated with anterior decompression, bone fusion, and anterior instrumentation. The outcome is compared between the two groups.Results. All patients were followed up for average 13.5 months (1Oto 33months).Spinal tuberculosis was completely cured and the grafted bones were fused in all 26 patients. The kyphosis and Frankel grade improved in all cases. There was no persistence or recurrence of infection possibly related to the instrumentation. There were no differences in the radiological results in both groups. The kyphosis was significantly corrected after surgical management. However, the loss of correction also occurred considerably in both groups.Conclusions. The single stage radical debridement with spinal cord decompression and fusion can be an alternative treatment method of lessinvolved thoracic spinal tuberculosis especially for elderly patients in early phase of bone destruction and/or mild and moderate kyphosis.