Treatment of Lumbosacral Tuberculosis with Significant Vertebral Body Loss Using Single-Stage Posterior Surgical Management with a Structural Autograft Combined with a Titanium Mesh Cage.

OBJECTIVE

Treatment of lumbosacral tuberculosis is still controversial. In our study, we assessed the efficacy and feasibility of single-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion using a structural autograft combined with a titanium mesh cage, and posterior instrumentation for the treatment of lumbosacral tuberculosis with significant vertebral body loss.

METHODS

From May 2011 to June 2018, 15 patients with lumbosacral tuberculosis with significant vertebral body loss had undergone single-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion using a structural autograft combined with a titanium mesh cage, and posterior instrumentation. The pre- and postoperative lumbosacral angle, visual analog scale score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and neurological status were assessed.

RESULTS

Surgery was successful for all patients, and no patient experienced tuberculosis recurrence during an average follow-up period of 27.3 months (range, 12-60 months). After surgery, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein for all patients had returned to normal within 3 months. At the final follow-up examination, the neurological status had improved in all patients who had had neurological deficits preoperatively. The mean preoperative lumbosacral angle was 12.6° (range, 6.7°-17.9°), and had increased to 27.7° (range, 24.3°-34.6°) after surgery. The average lumbosacral angle was 26.4° (range, 22.1°-32.3°), with an average loss of 1.4° (range, 0.6°-2.3°) at the final follow-up visit.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of single-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion using structural autografts with a titanium mesh cage, and posterior instrumentation is an effective and safe option for the treatment of lumbosacral tuberculosis with significant vertebral body loss.