The efficacy of local continuous chemotherapy and postural drainage in combination with one-stage posterior surgery for the treatment of lumbar spinal tuberculosis

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to compare the outcomes of one-stage posterior surgery involving debridement, bone grafting, and instrumentation with and without local continuous chemotherapy and postural drainage for the treatment of lumbar spinal tuberculosis. METHODS From January 2009 to January 2013, 109 patients with lumbar spinal tuberculosis were treated in our center using a posterior surgical approach. Patients underwent one-stage posterior debridement, bone grafting, and instrumentation, without (group A) and with (group B) local continuous chemotherapy and postural drainage. Clinical and radiographic results for the two groups were analyzed and compared. Clinical efficacy was evaluated based on surgery duration and blood loss. The Frankel scale was used to evaluate neurological function. A visual analog scale was used to assess low back pain. Bone graft fusion and instrumentation failure were monitored by radiography, and tuberculosis activity was monitored by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein testing. RESULTS Groups A and B contained 52 and 57 patients, respectively. Patients were followed for 18-36 (mean, 26.64 ± 4.2) months. All bone grafts ultimately fused, but the fusion rate was significantly more rapid in group B [6.4 ± 0.5 (range, 5-10) months] than in group A [8.9 ± 0.6 (range, 6-12) months; P < 0.05]. At 6 weeks postoperatively, ESR levels differed significantly between groups A and B (24.6 ± 1.5 vs. 16.3 ± 1.1 mm/h; P < 0.05). ESR levels normalized in both groups at 16 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Local continuous chemotherapy and postural drainage effectively eliminated infection foci caused by abscess remnants and accelerated interbody bone fusion in patients with lumbar spinal tuberculosis undergoing one-stage posterior surgery involving debridement, bone grafting, and instrumentation.