Anterior debridement, decompression, bone grafting, and instrumentation for lower cervical spine tuberculosis

Background contextCervical spine tuberculosis (TB) is uncommon, accounting for 3% to 5% of spinal TB. Although the development of anti-TB chemotherapy decreases the mortality rate significantly, it may not be applicable for all situations, especially for those with risk of instability, progression of neurologic deficit, and failure of medical treatment.PurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of anterior instrumentation after debridement and bone grafting in patients with lower cervical TB over a 5-year period at a single institution.Study designA retrospective study examining the results of anterior debridement, decompression, bone grafting, and instrumentation for lower cervical spine TB.Patient sampleThe procedure was performed in 25 patients.Outcome measuresThe clinical outcomes of infection activity, deformity, pain, and neurologic function were evaluated using erythrocyte sedimentation rate value and C-reactive protein value, kyphotic angle, visual analog scale pain score, and Frankel grade, respectively.MethodsBetween 2005 and 2010, 25 patients (18 males and seven females; average age, 39 years) with lower cervical spine tuberculosis (C3–C7) underwent anterior debridement, decompression, bone grafting, and instrumentation. The average follow-up period was 37.4 months (range 24–57 months). The medical records and radiographic findings of the patients were reviewed.ResultsThere were three patients who had involvement of one vertebra, 18 had two vertebrae of involvement, and four had three vertebrae of involvement. Before surgery, there were three patients with Frankel grade B, five with grade C, 12 with grade D, and five with grade E. During the last follow-up examination, in 20 patients with neurological deficit, 11 patients improved one grade, six patients improved two grades, one patient improved three grades, and the neurologic status remained unchanged in two patients. Stable bone union was observed in all cases and the average time required for fusion was 6.8 months. The kyphosis Cobb angle improved from the preoperative average of 15.48° (range 0°–55°) to a postoperative average of −4.8° (range −12° to 4°) and there was no significant correction loss during the follow-up period. During the follow-up period, there were no grafts or instrumentation-related stabilization problems. There was no other recurrence of TB infection.ConclusionsAnterior debridement, decompression, bone grafting, and instrumentation are safe and effective methods in the surgical management of lower cervical spine tuberculosis.