Minimally invasive surgery through the interlaminar approach in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis: A retrospective study of 31 patients

• Thirty-one patients with spinal tuberculosis were retrospectively evaluated.
• All patients were treated initially with conservative management which proved to be unsatisfactory.
• Patienst then underwent minimally invasive surgery and local chemotherapy.
• American Spinal Injury Association scores, Cobb angle, hepatorenal function and C-reactive protein were evaluated.
• This treatment method was effective.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of minimally invasive spinal decompression combined with local chemotherapy in treating patients with thoracic/lumbar tuberculosis (TB) and abscess compression of the spinal canal. Clinical data of 31 patients with thoracic/lumbar TB and spinal epidural abscess, admitted to our hospital between December 2005 and June 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received initial conservative treatment but achieved unsatisfactory results and then underwent minimally invasive spinal canal decompression, focus debridement and catheter drainage through a posterior interlaminar approach. Postoperatively, a short-course (1–2 months) of local chemotherapy was given. The patients were followed up on a regular basis. The neurologic status was graded according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score system. Kyphotic deformity was evaluated using Cobb angle measurement. Patients were followed up for an average of 37 months (range: 12–96 months). At the last follow-up, ASIA scores were improved in all patients, and there was a mild increase in the Cobb angle, but satisfactory spinal stabilization was achieved. Hepatorenal function, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels all returned to normal. One complication was observed, where the patient had worsened deficit postoperatively but achieved a satisfactory recovery (from Grade C to Grade E) one year after a second surgery. Minimally invasive spinal canal decompression combined with local chemotherapy appears to be an effective treatment for patients with thoracic/lumbar TB and abscess compression in the spinal canal.