Nonstructural Versus Structural Bone Grafting for Interbody Fusion in the Treatment of Lumbar Tuberculosis by a Single Posterior Approach
Abstract Background Many types of bone grafting have been reported for successful use in the treatment of lumbar spinal tuberculosis. However, none-structural bone grafting has rarely been studied. This study was aimed to identify the clinical efficacy of nonstructural with structural bone graft for interbody fusion in the surgical treatment of single segment lumbar tuberculosis after one stage posterior debridement.Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients with nonstructural (n=27) and structural (n=22) bone grafting after single-stage posterior debridement and instrumentation for lumbar tuberculosis with at least 24 months of follow-up. Plain radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scans, and health-related outcomes (e.g., Visual Analog Scale for back pain, the Oswestry Disability Index) were collected and analyzed before and after surgery. Results Both nonstructural and structural bone grafting were associated with significant improvements in the life quality parameters, the laboratory tests, and the Cobb angle of local kyphosis. A slight loss of Cobb angle correction was observed in two groups. Nonstructural bone grafting exhibited the advantages of less operation duration, blood loss and lower bone fusion rate compared with structural bone grafting. There were three complications in the nonstructural bone grafting and four complications in the structural bone grafting group, with no significant difference between two groups.Conclusions In conclusion, nonstructural bone grafting can achieve comparable interbody fusion to structural bone grafting but has less surgical trauma and simpler surgical procedure than structural bone grafting in the treatment of single segment lumbar tuberculosis after one stage posterior debridement and pedicle screws fixation.