The use of CaSO4 drug delivery system in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for spinal brucellosis

Abstract Objectives The incidence of human brucellosis has risen dramatically in China with few reports regarding the operation on spinal brucellosis. In this retrospective study we introduced CaSO 4 drug delivery system into the TLIF surgical procedure and evaluated its clinical effectiveness and feasibility. Patients and Methods 36 patients with lumbar brucellosis were enrolled and treated by posterior transforaminal decompression, instrumentation and fusion. Prepared CaSO 4 beads carrying doxycycline were placed into the disc space and around pedicle screws. The activity of infection and pain-related function scales were recorded. Neurologic and functional recovery was evaluated using ASIA and Kirkaldy-Willis scale. Segmental and overall lordotic angles were measured and fusion status was assessed at final follow up. Results The average follow-up period was 15.6 ± 3.73 months. The level of ESR and CRP returned to normal at 3 months post-op. 14 patients with ASIA grade D pre-op returned ASIA grade E with 3 months. The improvement of VAS and ODI was 82% and 85.8% at 3 months post-op. The corrections of segmental and overall lordotic angle were 5.98 ± 3.54° and 6.24 ± 7.93°. 69% of patients reached definitive union at 12 months after surgery. The satisfactory rate on Kirkaldy-Willis functional outcome criteria was 88.9%. Conclusion The use of CaSO 4 drug delivery system during single-stage TLIF for spinal brucellosis was safe and showed no negative impacts on fusion status and neurological function recovery. Our results are promising and the drug delivery system may be considered as a choice for future treatment in spinal brucellosis or other spondylodiscitis.