A Clinical Study of Spinal Tuberculosis

Sohn, Sung Keun; Park, Seung Rim; Park, Chang Il; Choi, Kyung Soo

Abstract

The incidence of spinal tuberculosis has been decreased because of the development of anti-tuberculosis drugs, the use of radical surgical procedures and the improvement in the nations general hygiene. The anterior fusion is the most frequently used surgical measure in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. One-hundred-eighty cases of spinal tuberculosis were treated by surgery during the 5 years from 1976 to 1980 at Presbyterian Medical Center with the following results: 1. The age distribution showed the peak incidence to be in the third decade. 2. The predilection site was the lumbar area and the percentage was 43.3. 3. In 17.2% of the cases, anti-tuberculosis drug was ingested before surgery. 4. Paraplegia was present in 16.1% of spinal tuberculosis. 5. In paraplegia, most of the location of the involved bodies was in the thoracic and the thoracolumbar vertebrae and the percentage was 79.3. 6. In paraplegia, complete recovery was 82.8%, and incomplete recovery was 10.3%. 7. In 90% of the patients, anterior fusion was done and the union rate was 91%. 8. Kyphosis was the most common in late complication.