Objective:

To evaluate the medium-term outcomes of one-stage posterior lumbosacral or lumbopelvic fixation treatment of lumbosacral junction tuberculosis in adults.

Methods:

This retrospective study enrolled a total of 38 adult patients (24 males and 14 females) with an average age of 48.0 ± 13.0 years (range, 25-75 years) during the period from February 2008 to July 2015. All patients were treated by one-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion, lumbosacral or lumbopelvic fixation, and postural drainage. After pedicle screw or iliac screw fixation, a hemi-laminectomy or laminectomy was performed on the severely damaged side of the lesion segment. Intervertebral bone grafting and intertransverse bone grafting were performed after clearing the focus of tuberculosis. All cases were followed up for at least 5 years. Intraoperative blood loss, operative time, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), pain intensity was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) score; neurological function was assessed by Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score; quality of life was assessed by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI); functional outcome, lumbosacral angle, and fusion time were gathered and analyzed. All data expressed as mean ± standard deviation.

Results:

During the 66.2 ± 4.4 months (range, 60-78 months) follow-up, all patients achieved clinical cure without severe complications. The intraoperative blood loss was 726.3 ± 151.9 mL (range, 400-1100 mL) and the operative time was 137.6 ± 22.5 min (range, 110-200 min). The ESR decreased to normal levels within (11.8 ± 2.6 mm/h) 3 months postoperatively. The VAS score significantly decreased from 6.8 ± 1.1 preoperatively to 0.8 ± 0.7 at the final follow-up (P < 0.01). The mean JOA improved from preoperative 18.5 ± 2.9 to 26.9 ± 1.1 at the last visit (P < 0.01). The mean ODI was 44.3 ± 6.7 and significantly decreased to 9.3 ± 1.9 at the final observation (P < 0.01). Patient-reported outcomes as measured by Kirkaldy-Willis criteria were excellent in 21 cases, good in 16 cases, and fair in one case; there were no poor outcomes. Lumbosacral angle increased from the preoperative values of 21.7° ± 1.8° to the postoperative values of 26.4° ± 1.4° (P < 0.01), with an angle loss of 1.2° ± 0.7° at the last follow-up. Bone fusion occurred on average 12.8 ± 1.9 months (range, 9-15 months) after surgery. No nonunion, pseudarthrosis, loosening or fracture of instruments occurred at the last follow-up.

Conclusion:

One-stage posterior debridement, interbody fusion, lumbosacral or lumbopelvic fixation, and postural drainage according to the severity of sacral destruction is an effective and highly safe procedure to treat lumbosacral junction tuberculosis in adults.