One-stage surgical management for thoracic tuberculosis by anterior debridement, decompression and autogenous rib grafts, and instrumentation

Background contextPatients with thoracic tuberculosis have been not always successfully treated by radical debridement and bone grafting with or without supplementary posterior instrumentation and fusion, although most surgeons use posterior instrumentation to support anterior strut grafts.PurposeTo determine the efficacy of anterior instrumentation after radical debridement and autogenous rib grafts in patients with thoracic tuberculosis over a 6-year period at a single institution.Study designA retrospective clinical study of one-stage surgical management for thoracic tuberculosis by anterior radical debridement, decompression and autogenous rib grafts, and instrumentation.Patient sampleProcedure was performed in 42 patients.Outcome measuresKyphotic angle was measured to assess the severity of the thoracic tuberculosis. Neurologic outcome was evaluated using Frankel grade, infection activity using erythrocyte sedimentation rate value and C-reactive protein value, and pain using a visual analog scale pain score.MethodsIn this retrospective study, the authors evaluated 42 patients (25 men and 17 women; average age, 47.7 years) with thoracic tuberculosis, who underwent one-stage anterior radical debridement, decompression and autogenous rib grafts, and instrumentation. The average follow-up period was 50.8 months (range, 24–85 months).ResultsA solid fusion was achieved in all cases. Of all 42 patients with preoperative kyphosis, the deformity was corrected from an average of 19.8° on admission to an average of 3.7° after surgery and to an average of 4.6° at the final visit. No significant loss of deformity correction was noted in these patients. There was no other recurrence of the tuberculous infection.ConclusionThe authors think that the one-stage anterior autogenous rib grafts and instrumentation are safe and effective methods in the surgical management of thoracic tuberculosis.