Clinical Effectiveness of the Posterior Affected-Vertebrae Fixation Method in Posterior-Anterior Surgery to Treat Thoracic Spinal Tuberculosis

Objective The present retrospective comparative analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of affected-vertebrae fixation versus short-segment fixation to treat thoracic spinal tuberculosis. Methods The present study included 110 patients receiving treatment for thoracic spinal tuberculosis at our hospital from January 2006 to June 2013. All cases involved the use of posterior spinal correction, posterior lateral fusion, internal fixation, anterior decompression, radical debridement, and intervertebral supporting bone grafts. The cases were divided by the scope of posterior internal fixation into the affected-vertebrae fixation group ( n  = 62) and the short-segment fixation group ( n  = 48). Statistical analysis was used to compare the clinical effectiveness, laboratory test results, and imaging findings. Results The mean surgical blood loss, mean operating time, and mean inpatient expenditures were all significantly less in the affected-vertebrae fixation group than in the short-segment fixation group ( P Conclusions As long as the surgical indications are strictly observed, posterior affected-vertebrae fixation in posterior-anterior surgery for thoracic spinal tuberculosis is safe, effective, and feasible; entails minimal surgical trauma; and has a lower inpatient cost.