ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of lesion clearing, decompression and fusing, and fixation with single nail from the anterior way for thoracic vertebra tuberculosis. MethodsFrom January 2008 to September 2011, 42 patients with thoracic vertebra tuberculosis were treated in our hospital. There were 28 males and 14 females with the age between 27 and 63 years old, averaging 45. The course of the disease ranged from 4 to 12 months, averaging 8 months. According to the affected parts and segments, there was 1 case of upper thoracic vertebrae involvement, 20 of inner thoracic spine, 21 of lower thoracic vertebrae, 9 of multiple segments, and 2 of multi-level noncontiguous tuberculosis. All patients accepted preoperative normal anti-tuberculosis drugs for 2 to 4 weeks. After confirming that the anti-tuberculosis treatment was effective, we cleared the lesion, fused by decompression at iliac crest bone graft sites and fixed by single nail from the anterior way. Postoperative regular follow-up was carried out. X ray film was used to detect the fusion, paralysis Frankel classification was adopted to evaluate the function recovery of patients, and visual analog pain score (VAS) was used to assess the relief of patients' symptoms. ResultsAll incisions of the patients were healed by the first intention. There was no recurrence in the tuberculosis focus area. Follow-up was done in forty cases for 12 to 34 months, averaging 23 months. X-ray review showed that the bone graft area turned into osseous fusion in all patients with the fusion time ranging from 10 to 16 months, averaging 13 months. No nail bar system loose or fracture occurred. Paralyzed patients Frankel classification showed that there were 2 A-level, 3 B-level, 9 C-level, 25 D-level, and 3 E-level cases before operation. During the last follow-up, there were no A-level, 1 B-level, 5 C-level, 10 D-level, and 26 E-level cases. Local pain VAS score results showed that preoperative point was 7.82±1.03, and the final follow-up point was 0.52±0.31, with a significant difference (P<0.05). ConclusionLesion clearing, fusion and single nail application from the anterior way is one of the reliable and efficient ways in thoracic vertebra tuberculosis surgery and the results are satisfying.