Open AccessThoracoscopy‐assisted mini‐open surgery for anterior column reconstruction in thoracic spinal tuberculosis
Author(s) -
Lv Guohua,
Wang Bing,
Li Jing,
Liu Weidong,
Yin Ganghui,
Ma Zemin
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
orthopaedic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1757-7861
pISSN - 1757-7853
DOI - 10.1111/j.1757-7861.2009.00043.x
Subject(s) - medicine , thoracoscopy , surgery , tuberculosis , thoracic vertebrae , cardiothoracic surgery , lumbar vertebrae , lumbar , pathology
Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of thoracoscopy‐assisted mini‐open surgery for anterior column reconstruction in thoracic spinal tuberculosis. Methods: Fifty‐eight patients, 35 men and 23 women, aged 39.2 (range, 19–60) years with thoracic spinal tuberculosis with an average kyphotic angle of 29.2° (range, 18°–42°) underwent thoracoscopy‐assisted mini‐open surgeries, including thorough debridement and anterior spinal reconstruction. According to the Frankel Grading system, preoperative neurological function was judged as Grade B in 3 cases, Grade C in 7, Grade D in 28, and Grade E in 20. All patients were followed up for an average of 4.6 years. Outcomes were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Surgery was accomplished successfully in all cases. The average operation time was 230 min (range, 180–320 min), the average intraoperative blood loss 570 ml (range, 350–1200 ml), and the mean drainage duration 3.6 days (3–5 days). Complications occurred in 19 patients (32.8%). Neurological improvement of one to three grades had occurred in 29 patients by final follow‐up. The average correction rate of the kyphotic angle was 36.4%, and no obvious correction loss was detected during follow‐up. No recurrent tuberculosis was found in the group. Conclusions: Thoracoscopy‐assisted mini‐open surgery provides a simple, safe, effective, and practical technology with minimal invasiveness for the treatment of thoracic spinal tuberculosis.