Efficacy analysis of one-stage posterior-only surgical treatment for thoracic spinal tuberculosis in the T4–6 segments with minimum 5-year follow-up

In recent years, with the in-depth research on spinal tuberculosis, posterior surgery alone has been praised highly by more and more surgeons due to the better correction of kyphosis, better maintenance of spinal physiological curvature, smaller surgical trauma and fewer surgical complications. However, there is currently lack of relevant reports about the efficacy of posterior surgery alone in the treatment of tuberculosis in the T4–6 segments. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical study efficacy and feasibility of one-stage posterior-only surgical treatment for thoracic spinal tuberculosis in the T4–6 segments. 67 patients with tuberculosis in T4–6 segments who underwent one-stage posterior-only surgery were included in this study. The clinical efficacy was evaluated using statistical analysis based on the data about erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Oswestry Dability Index (ODI) score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Cobb angle before surgery, after surgery and at the last follow-up. All patients completed fusion during the follow-up period of 6–9 months. ESR and CRP were returned to normal for all patients at 6 months follow-up. In the meanwhile, among the 27 patients combined with neurological impairment, neurological functions of 22 cases (81.48%) recovered completely at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). Cobb angle of the kyphosis was improved from preoperative 34.8 ± 10.9° to postoperative 9.6 ± 2.8°, maintaining at 11.3 ± 3.2° at the last follow-up, The ODI and VAS scores were improved by 77.10% and 81.70%, respectively. This 5-year follow-up study shows that better clinical efficacy can be achieved for tuberculosis in T4–6 segments using one-stage posterior-only approach by costotransverse debridement in combination with bone graft and internal fixation. The posterior surgical method cannot only effectively accomplish debridement, obtain satisfactory clinical results, but also well correct kyphotic deformity and maintain it.

Efficacy Analysis of One-stage Posterior-only Surgical Treatment for Thoracic Spinal Tuberculosis in the T4-6 Segments with Minimum 5-year Follow-up

In recent years, with the in-depth research on spinal tuberculosis, posterior surgery alone has been praised highly by more and more surgeons due to the better correction of kyphosis, better maintenance of spinal physiological curvature, smaller surgical trauma and fewer surgical complications. However, there is currently lack of relevant reports about the efficacy of posterior surgery alone in the treatment of tuberculosis in the T4-6 segments. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical study efficacy and feasibility of one-stage posterior-only surgical treatment for thoracic spinal tuberculosis in the T4-6 segments. 67 patients with tuberculosis in T4-6 segments who underwent one-stage posterior-only surgery were included in this study. The clinical efficacy was evaluated using statistical analysis based on the data about erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Oswestry Dability Index (ODI) score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Cobb angle before surgery, after surgery and at the last follow-up. All patients completed fusion during the follow-up period of 6–9 months. ESR and CRP were returned to normal for all patients at 6 months follow-up. In the meanwhile, among the 27 patients combined with neurological impairment, neurological functions of 22 cases (81.48%) recovered completely at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). Cobb angle of the kyphosis was improved from preoperative 34.8 ± 10.9° to postoperative 9.6 ± 2.8°, maintaining at 11.3 ± 3.2° at the last follow-up, The ODI and VAS scores were improved by 77.10% and 81.70%, respectively. This 5-year follow-up study shows that better clinical efficacy can be achieved for tuberculosis in T4-6 segments using one-stage posterior-only approach by costotransverse debridement in combination with bone graft and internal fixation. The posterior surgical method cannot only effectively accomplish debridement, obtain satisfactory clinical results, but also well correct kyphotic deformity and maintain it.

Early surgical intervention for active thoracic spinal tuberculosis patients with paraparesis and paraplegia

Background To explore the therapeutic effect of early surgical intervention for active thoracic spinal tuberculosis (TB) patients with paraparesis and paraplegia. Methods Data on 118 active thoracic spinal TB patients with paraparesis and paraplegia who had undergone surgery at an early stage (within three weeks of paraparesis and paraplegia) from January 2008 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation duration, blood loss, perioperative complication rate, VAS score, ASIA grade and NASCIS score of neurological status rating, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), kyphotic Cobb’s angle, and duration of bone graft fusion were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of surgery. Results The mean operating time was 194.2 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 871.2 ml. The perioperative complication rate was 5.9 %. The mean preoperative VAS score was 5.3, which significantly decreased to 3.2 after the operation and continued decreasing to 1.1 at follow up (P<0.05). All cases achieved an increase of at least one ASIA grade after operation. The rate of full neurological recovery for paraplegia (ASIA grade A and B) was 18.0 % and was significantly lower than the rate (100 %) for paraparesis (ASIA grade C and D) (P<0.05). On the NASCIS scale, the difference in the neurological improvement rate between paraplegia (22.2 % ± 14.1 % in sensation and 52.2 % ± 25.8 % in movement) and paraparesis (26.7 % ± 7.5 % in sensation and 59.4 % ± 7.3 % in movement) was remarkable (P<0.05). Mean preoperative ESR and CRP were 73.1 mm /h and 82.4 mg/L, respectively, which showed a significant increase after operation (P>0.05), then gradually decreased to 11.5 ± 1.8 mm/h and 2.6 ± 0.82 mg/L, respectively, at final follow up (P<0.05). The mean preoperative kyphotic Cobb’s angle was 21.9º, which significantly decreased to 6.5º after operation (P<0.05) while kyphotic correction was not lost during follow up (P>0.05). The mean duration of bone graft fusion was 8.6 ± 1.3 months. Conclusions Early surgical intervention may be beneficial for active thoracic spinal TB patients with paraparesis and paraplegia, with surgical intervention being more beneficial for recovery from paraparesis than paraplegia.

The efficacy of single posterior debridement, bone grafting and instrumentation for the treatment of thoracic spinal tuberculosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of single posterior debridement, bone grafting and instrumentation for the treatment of thoracic spinal tuberculosis in adult patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted between June 2013 and September 2017of 88 adult patients with thoracic spinal tuberculosis. All patients were treated with single posterior debridement, bone grafting and instrumentation. The clinical manifestations and laboratory and imageological results were subsequently analysed. All patients were followed for 40.6 ± 4.1 months (range, 36–48 m). Bony fusion was achieved in all bone grafts of thoracic vertebrae. The visual analogue scale scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels 6 weeks after surgery and at the final follow up were significantly lower than the preoperative levels (P < 0.05). The postoperative and final follow up kyphosis angles were both significantly smaller than the preoperative kyphosis angles (P < 0.05). The postoperative angle correction rate reached 81.5% and the postoperative angle loss reached only 4.1%. At the last follow up, American Spinal Injury Association improvement was significant, compared with the preoperative levels (P < 0.05). The single posterior approach can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes in the treatment of thoracic spinal tuberculosis.

Esophageal perforation following pedicle screw placement for the treatment of upper thoracic spinal tuberculosis: a case report and review of the literature

Background The technique of posterior pedicle screw fixation has already been widely applied in the treatment of upper thoracic spinal tuberculosis. However, lesions of tuberculosis directly invade the vertebrae and surrounding soft tissues, which increases the risk of esophageal perforation induced by the posterior pedicle screw placement. Herein, we report the first case of esophageal perforation following pedicle screw placement in the upper thoracic spinal tuberculosis, and describe the underlying causes, as well as the treatment and prognosis. Case presentation A 48-year-old female patient with upper thoracic spinal tuberculosis presented sputum-like secretions from the wound after she was treated with one-stage operation through the posterolateral approach. Endoscopy was immediately conducted, which confirmed that the patient complicated with postoperative esophageal perforation caused by screws. CT scan showed that the right screw perforated the anterior cortex of the vertebrae and the esophagus at the T4 level. Fortunately, mediastinal infection was not observed. The T4 screw was removed, Vacuum Sealing Drainage (VSD) was performed, and jejunum catheterization was used for enteral nutrition. After continuous treatment with sensitive antibiotics for 2.5 months and 5 times of VSD aspiration, the infected wound recovered gradually. With 18-month follow-up, the esophagus healed well, without symptoms of dysphagia and stomach discomfort, and CT scan showed that T2–4 had complete osseous fusion without sequestrum. Conclusion Tuberculosis increases the risk of postoperative esophageal perforation in a certain degree for patients with upper thoracic tuberculosis. The damages to esophagus during the operation should be prevented. The screws with the length no more than 30 mm should be selected. Moreover, close monitoring after operation should be conducted to help the early identification, diagnosis and treatment, which could help preventing the adverse effects induced by the delayed diagnosis and treatment of esophageal perforation.

Early Surgical Intervention for Active Thoracic Spinal Tuberculosis with Paraparesis and Paraplegia

Background: To explore the therapeutic effect of early surgical interventions for patients of active thoracic spinal tuberculosis (TB) with paraparesis and paraplegia.Methods: Data of 118 patients with active thoracic spinal TB and paraparesis and paraplegia who had undergone surgeries at an early stage (within three weeks of paraparesis and paraplegia) from January 2008 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation duration, blood loss, perioperative complication rate, VAS score, ASIA grade of neurological status, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), kyphotic Cobb’s angle, and duration of bone graft fusion were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effects.Results: Mean operation time was 194.2 minutes, mean blood loss was 871.2 ml. The perioperative complication rate was 5.1%. Mean preoperative VAS score was 5.3, significantly decreased to 3.2 after operation, and continued decreasing to 1.1 at the follow up (P＜0.05). All cases achieved at least one grade elevation after operation, specifically, 2 cases of ASIA grade A rose to grade B, 10 cases of ASIA grade A rose to grade C, 2 cases of ASIA grade A rose to grade E; 9 cases of ASIA grade B rose to grade D, 38 cases of ASIA grade B rose to grade E; all 57 cases of ASIA grade C rose to ASIA grade E. The rate of full neurological recovery for patients with paraplegia was 14.3%, significantly lower than the rate (91.3%) for patients with paraparesis. Mean preoperative ESR and CRP were 73.1 mm /h and 82.4 mg/L, insignificantly increased after operation (P＞0.05), then gradually decreased to 11.5 ± 1.8 mm /h and 2.6 ± 0.82 mg/L at the final follow up, respectively (P＜0.05). The mean preoperative kyphotic Cobb’s angle was 21.9º, significantly decreased to 6.5º after operation (P＜0.05) and the kyphotic correction had not lost during the follow up (P＞0.05). Mean duration of bone graft fusion was 8.6±1.3 monthsConclusion: Early surgical intervention may be beneficial for patients with active thoracic spinal TB and paraparesis or paraplegia, with surgical intervention being more beneficial for paraparesis recovery compared with paraplegia recovery.

Early Surgical Intervention for Active Thoracic Spinal Tuberculosis with Paraplegia

Background: To explore the therapeutic effect of early surgical interventions for patients of active thoracic spinal tuberculosis (TB) with paraplegia. Methods: Data of 118 patients with active thoracic spinal TB and paraplegia who had undergone surgeries at an early stage (within three weeks of paraplegia) from January 2008 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation duration, blood loss, perioperative complication rate, VAS score, ASIA grade of neurological status, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), kyphotic Cobb’s angle, and duration of bone graft fusion were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effects. Results: Mean operation time was 194.2 minutes, mean blood loss was 871.2 ml. The perioperative complication rate was 5.1%. Mean preoperative VAS score was 5.3, significantly decreased to 3.2 after operation, and continued decreasing to 1.1 at the follow up (P＜0.05). All cases achieved at least one grade elevation after operation, specifically, 2 cases of ASIA grade A rose to grade B, 10 cases of ASIA grade A rose to grade C, 2 cases of ASIA grade A rose to grade E; 9 cases of ASIA grade B rose to grade D, 38 cases of ASIA grade B rose to grade E; all 57 cases of ASIA grade C rose to ASIA grade E. The rate of full neurological recovery for complete paraplegia patients was 14.3%, significantly lower than the rate (91.3%) for incomplete paraplegia patients. Mean preoperative ESR and CRP were 73.1 mm /h and 82.4 mg/L, insignificantly increased after operation (P＞0.05), then gradually decreased to 11.5 ± 1.8 mm /h and 2.6 ± 0.82 mg/L at the final follow up, respectively (P＜0.05). The mean preoperative kyphotic Cobb’s angle was 21.9º, significantly decreased to 6.5º after operation (P＜0.05) and the kyphotic correction had not lost during the follow up (P＞0.05). Mean duration of bone graft fusion was 8.6±1.3 months Conclusion: Early surgical intervention may be beneficial for patients with active thoracic spinal TB with and paraplegia, with surgical intervention being more beneficial for incomplete paraplegic recovery compared with that of complete paraplegia.