[Treatment of thoracolumbar tuberculosis complicated with paraplegia].

OBJECTIVE

To explore characteristics of thoracolumbar tuberculosis complicated with paraplegia, relationship between efficacy and approach of operation, and to discuss indication and applicability of conservative treatment.

METHOD: Forty-eight cases with thoracolumbar tuberculosis complicated with paraplegia were classified into two groups. Thirty-two cases in the operational group were treated with extrapleural, extraperitoneal approach and transpleural, extraperitoneal approach. Sixteen cases in the nonoperational group were treated conservatively.

RESULT: The recovered cases in the operational and the nonoperational groups respectively accounted for 75% and 88%.

CONCLUSION

Thoracolumbar tuberculosis complicated with paraplegia can be cured by either operative or conservative treatment, and the efficacy of operation directly related with operational approach.