Review of the Spinal Tuberculosis Surgical Treatment and Outcomes

Abstract

Spinal tuberculosis (TB), caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one of the oldest diseases in the world. Spinal TB represents 50% of bone and joint TB. If spinal TB is not diagnosed and treated in time, it could cause spinal cord infection, nerve compression and paralysis. Spinal TB often causes abscesses formation, spinal dysfunction, spinal instability, and kyphosis onset disorder. Most spinal TB can be cured by non-surgical treatment. Surgery is the ultimate method of treatment of spinal tuberculosis and it is used for eliminating lesions, relieving spinal cord and nerve compression, correcting kyphosis and building spine stability. At present, spinal TB surgical approaches are mainly posterior approach, combined anterior-posterior approach and minimally invasive techniques. The present review summarizes the advantages, disadvantages and indications for each surgical method.