A Clinical Study of Anterior Interbody Fusion on Tuberculosis of the Spine

Yune, S H; Lee, K J; Lee, J K; Ahn, S R; Moon, H S

Abstract

In the tuberculosis of bone and joint, the spine is most prevalent site and its treatment was improved with operation procedure. Recently its gole of treatment is prevention of complication rather treatment itself. Furthermore computerized tomogrsm makes more sccurately and perfectly its nature and extent of disease. During the period from Jsnuary 1981 to July 1985, among the 68 patients of spine tuberculosis that was treated in chungnam national university hospital orthopaedic department, 46 patients had Anterior interbody fusion. The results are as follows. 1. Common age incidence was 3rd decade, and the ratio of male to female was not significant. 2. The site of lesion, which had been most commonly involved, was lower thoracic(36.9%) snd lumbar(34.7%) spine. 3. The paraplegia appeared in 13% of all patients. Of these, 66.7% was incomplete lesion which was recoyered completely after operation. In 2 cases of complete lesion, there was no recoverly even after one year follow up. 4. Major associated lesions were pulmonary Tbc(19.5%) and renal Tbc(8.6%). 5. Healing rate was 95.7% and these group appears favourable. 6. Computerized tomography of spine is valuable in determining the degree of destructive material, spinal canal encroachment and abscess formation. So, C-T image in Tbc of spine gives many informations in plan of preoperative management and postoperative therapeutices.