Analysis of 17 cases of posterior vertebral column resection in treating thoracolumbar spinal tuberculous angular kyphosis

OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) in treating thoracolumbar spinal tuberculous angular kyphosis (TSTAK). METHODS From January 2008 to January 2012, 17 TSTAK patients were treated surgically, including five males and 12 females, with an average age of 23.6 years, among five cases who had the kyphotic apical vertebrae located at the thoracic vertebrae, ten cases were located at the thoracolumbar segment, and two cases were located at the lumbar vertebrae. The kyphotic Cobb angle was measured in the preoperative, postoperative, and final follow-up, respectively, and the nerve function ASIA classification was assessed. RESULTS The mean operative time was 364 min; the average intraoperative blood loss was 2,218 ml; and the average intraoperative blood transfusion was 1,863 ml. Among the five patients with the preoperative nerve function as grade D, four of them recovered to grade E. The preoperative average Cobb angle was 81.3° ± 12.8°, while the postoperative average Cobb average was 17.3° ± 3.6°; while it was significantly improved than the preoperative (P < 0.01), the average kyphosis correction rate was 68.7% ± 6.5%; the postoperative average follow-up was 18.7 months, with an average correction loss as 3.3°. CONCLUSION PVCR could be safely and effectively used in TSTAK.