Background:

Posterior limited unilateral fenestration approach is extensively used in the treatment of many spinal diseases. But whether it is suitable for spinal tuberculosis (TB) is rarely reported. Hence, the current study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of the posterior limited unilateral fenestration (PLUF) debridement, bone grafting fusion, and instrumentation to treat single-segment thoracic and lumbar TB.

Methods:

Eighty-three patients (45 male and 38 female) aged 17-79 years old with the single-segment thoracic and lumbar TB who underwent PLUF debridement, bone grafting fusion, and instrumentation from our hospital were recruited for this study. The operation time, blood loss volume, postoperative complication rate, kyphotic Cobb angle, neurological functional improvement defined by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the bone fusion time were utilized for assessing the clinical feasibility and efficacy.

Results:

The average follow-up time was 46.9 ± 13.1 (24-72) months. At the last follow-up, the mean kyphotic Cobb angle was significantly reduced from preoperative 23.0° ± 15.3° to postoperative 8.3° ± 11.0° (p < 0.001). Based on the ASIA classification, 89.2% (33 out of 37) patients with preoperative neurological impairment indicated good neurological improvement after the surgery. The VAS pain score significantly decreased from preoperative 6.9 ± 1.1 to 1.3 ± 0.7 3 months after operation (p < 0.001). All the patients achieved solid bony fusion within 13 months of surgery.

Conclusions:

For patients with single-segment thoracic and lumbar TB, PLUF debridement, bone grafting fusion, and instrumentation are a feasible and effective surgical treatment.