One-stage posterior debridement, titanium mesh cage bone grafting and single-segment fixation for treating mono-segmental lumbar and lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis in adult patients following minimum 5-year follow-up

Abstract Background To evaluate the mid-long term outcomes of surgical management of mono-segmental lumbar and lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis (TB) by one-stage posterior debridement, titanium mesh cage bone grafting and single-segment fixation. Methods A total of 62 patients with mono-segmental lumbar or lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis were enrolled. One-stage posterior debridement, titanium mesh cage bone grafting and single-segment fixation was performed. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were compared and analyzed. Results All patients were followed up for an average of 75.0 ± 11.5 months and completely cured at the final follow-up. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) returned to normal within three months postoperatively. Postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability index (ODI) were significantly improved compared with preoperative values. Bony fusion occurred after an average of 9.8 ± 2.6 months. The lordosis angle and lumbosacral angle were increased from preoperative 20.4 ± 2.9° and 14.7 ± 3.4°to postoperative 32.8 ± 3.6° and 22.4 ± 5.5°, with the angle loss of 1.0 ± 0.7° and 0.8 ± 0.7° at the final follow-up, respectively. No significant differences between preoperative and postoperative adjacent segment disc height (DH) were found. Conclusions one-stage posterior debridement, titanium mesh cage bone grafting and single-segment fixation can be an effective and feasible treatment option for mono-segmental lumbar and lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis in adults. It may preserve lumbar normal motor units and decrease adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) with the advantages of minimally invasion and rapid postoperative rehabilitation.