[Application of freeze-dried cancellous allograft in treatment of spinal tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of freeze-dried cancellous allograft in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis.

METHODS

From January 1999 to August 2004, there were 31 cases of spinal tuberculosis who underwent surgery. The freeze-dried cancellous allograft was used as grafting material in all the cases. The cancellous allograft was packed in a titanium mesh cage or an artificial vertebrae, and then used as a strut graft anteriorly to implant into the bone defect after the radical debridement, and the instrumentation was done.

RESULTS

Twenty-three cases were followed up 1.5 years to 5 years (3.7 years on average), and bony fusion was achieved in 21 cases 6 months later. In 2 cases ceasing antituberculous therapy after 2 months of operation, the local recurrence was obvious. The loosened screw was noticed in one of these two cases, who had tuberculosis in lumbar spine. When antituberculous therapy continued, the bony fusion was observed in these two cases 12 months later. No further position change of the instrument was noticed in the patient carrying loosened screw, but the kyphosis of the thoracolumbar spine aggravated.

CONCLUSION

Freeze-dried cancellous allograft could be used in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. To achieve good results of allograft incorporation and remodeling, the rigid instrumentation should be performed, postoperative antituberculous therapy is also important.