To explore the advantage and indication of combined anterior and posterior surgeries for lumbarsacral junction tuberculosis. Methods Eleven cases of the lumbarsacral junction tuberculosis were treated with combined anterior (radical debridement and autograft) and posterior (instrumentation and fusion) surgeries in one stage between January 2002 and December 2006. There were 9 males and 2 females with the age of 20-56 years old. The courseof disease was 4 to 15 months, 6 months on average. The lessons were located at L5, S1 in 7 patients, at L4,5, S1 in 2 patients and at L5, S2 in 2 patients. The involved vertebral bodies were at 2 segments in 7 patients; and 3 segments in 5 patients. The preoperative kyphosis was 5 to 8° with an average 9°. The sinus was associated in 3 patients, 3 patients had radiculopathy; 4 had paeumonophthisis and 9 had abscess. Results The followed-up period was from 6 months to 3 years, 18 months on average. According to Chen score, among the 11 cases, there were excellent in 9, good in 2. All incisions were healed up primarily. After operation, spinal fusion was achieved in 10 cases within 5 months to 7 months, 6 months on average, and pseudoarthrosis in 1 case was found by the CT examination. The postoperative kyphosis was 0 to 4° with the mean of 2° and the radiculopathy in 3 cases all got nerve function recovery. Conclusion Lumbarsacral junction tuberculosis treated with this surgical technique can achieve a high satisfactory rate with restoring the spinal stabil ity, arresting the disease early, providing early fusion, correcting the kyphosis and preventing progression of kyphosis particularly if lumbosacral spine tuberculosis is associated with sinus or preoperative diagnosis cannot exclude suppurative spondyl itis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the short-term effectiveness of one-stage radical debridement and total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the treatment of active tuberculosis of the hip. MethodsBetween January 2006 and June 2011,one-stage radical debridement and THA were performed on 12 cases (12 hips) of active tuberculosis of the hip.There were 7 males and 5 females,aged 18-60 years (mean,46.3 years).The disease duration ranged from 6 to 24 months (mean,10.5 months).According to Babhulkar and Pande staging criteria,5 cases were at stage Ⅲ and 7 cases were at stage IV.One case had sinus,and 2 cases had previous pulmonary tuberculosis.Preoperative hip range of motion was (35.83±9.25)°; hip Harris score was 36.83±6.44.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 45-90 mm/1 h (mean,62.4 mm/1h); C-reactive protein (CRP) was 19-50 mg/L (mean,33.6 mg/L).Perioperatively all the patients accepted the regular anti-tuberculous medication. ResultsThe results of histopathological examination and PCR detection were positive for tuberculosis bacillus.Postoperatively the incisions healed primarily.All the patients were followed up 25-60 months (mean,40.8 months).The ESR and CRP returned to normal level with no liver injury.Tuberculosis recurrence occurred in 1 patient at 4 months after operation,which was cured after revision.X-ray film showed no prosthesis shift,prosthesis loosening,or sinus tract.At 18-24 months after operation,the bilateral sides had the same bone density,which was similar to that at the final follow-up.Hip range of motion was significantly improved to (107.08±13.56)° (t=14.571,P=0.000).Hip Harris score was significantly increased to 88.00±10.78 (t=16.750,P=0.000). ConclusionA combination of one-stage radical debridement and THA is a safe method to treat active tuberculosis of the hip,which can relief symptoms and improve hip function,with low recurrence and satisfactory short-term effectiveness.