• Zili Wang, Haifeng Yuan, Guangqi Geng, Jiandang Shi, and Weidong Jin.
• Department of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People's Republic of China.
• Int Orthop. 2012 Feb 1;36(2):325-9.

PurposeA retrospective study was conducted to determine the beneficial effect of posterior mono-segmental fixation, combined with anterior debridement and strut graft for the treatment of mono-segmental lumbar spine tuberculosis.MethodsFrom February 2002 to February 2008, a total of 34 cases with mono-segmental lumbar spine tuberculosis were treated by posterior mono-segmental fixation, combined with anterior debridement and strut graft. The degree of damage to the patients' vertebral bodies was 1/3-2/3 height. Antituberculous therapy was performed both before and after surgery.ResultsNone of the patients suffered from spinal cord, nerve, great vessel or organ damage, with all patients passing through the peri-operative period successfully. Graft union was observed four to six months after surgery, with a mean of five months. In addition, no fracture or prolapsed internal fixation was found. The Cobb's angle prior to and after surgery, and at the final follow-up were 22.70 ± 9.8°, 4.5 ± 8.4° and 5.30 ± 7.10°, respectively, with a mean correction of 18.20 ± 5.8° after surgery; however, 1.70 ± 1.0° loss was observed at the final follow-up. Four cases with neurological lesions recovered to 'E' grade. At the final follow-up, all patients could live and work normally.ConclusionsThe results demonstrated that for cases with 1/3-2/3 height of vertebral body damaged in mono-segmental lumbar spine tuberculosis, treatment with posterior mono-segmental fixation, combined with anterior debridement and strut graft, can cure foci, rebuild spinal stability, reduce fused segments, and retain maximal function of the motion units.

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