• Alper Gokce, Yusuf Ozturkmen, Savas Mutlu, and Mustafa Caniklioğlu.
• Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey. a.gokce@yahoo.com
• J Spinal Disord Tech. 2008 Oct 1;21(7):484-8.

Study DesignRetrospective case analysis.ObjectiveTuberculosis spondylitis is a cause of sagittal imbalance and neurologic impairment. In this study, the result of decompression and closing wedge osteotomy with instrumented fusion performed in patients with tuberculous spondylitis were analyzed retrospectively.Summary Of Background DataTwelve patients with angular kyphotic deformity underwent decompression and closing wedge osteotomy with instrumented fusion between 2000 and 2004. Clinical and radiologic assessment was based on pain, functional and neurologic status, and radiologic measurements.MethodsThere were 7 men and 5 women with median age of 52 years (range, 24 to 76 y). The average follow-up period was 62 months (range, 48 to 70 mo). The radiologic involvement included the angle of kyphosis on the anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. The preoperative and postoperative clinical assessments were performed by the using Oswestry Disability Index. All patients were asked to rate their preoperative and postoperative pain measurement using a pain visual analog scale.ResultsVisual analog scale scores improved from 5.8 in average (range, 4 to 8) to 2.2 in average (range, 1 to 4) and in the mean and Oswestry Disability Index from 54.2 (46 to 60) preoperatively to 15.2 (8 to 22) at the latest follow-up. Four patients presented neurologic findings. Three patients had improvement in their neurologic status, 1 patient did not improve and remained as American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade C. Kyphotic deformity of the patients has improved from 51.1 to 23.2 degrees postoperatively. One of them has to be revised and instrumentation was extended to upper levels. Fusion was achieved at the last follow-up.ConclusionsDespite developing pseudarthrosis secondary to implant failure in 1 case, we recommend debridement, closing wedge osteotomy, and posterior instrumented fusion to correct sagittal balance in tuberculous spondylitis.

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