[Treatment of tuberculosis of lumbar spine in elderly patients with percataneous endoscopic focal cleaning and drainage combined with posterior internal fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical effects and advantages of percataneous endoscopic focal cleaning and drainage combined with posterior internal fixation in the treatment of tuberculosis of lumbar spine in elderly.

METHODS: The clinical data of 32 patients with tuberculosis of lumbar spine received percataneous endoscopic focal cleaning and drainage combined with posterior internal fixation from May 2013 to May 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 13 males and 19 females, aged from 62 to 85 years old with an average of 75 years. Lesion segmental Cobb angle was 13° to 21° with an average of (16.52±3.20)°. Tuberculosis focal involved L₁-L₂ of 1 case, L₂-L₃ of 4 cases, L₃-L₄ of 15 cases, L₄-₅ of 10 case, L₅-S₁ of 2 cases. Cobb angle, VAS score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and ASIA grade were compared before and after operation. The stability of the spine and the recurrence of tuberculosis were evaluated.

RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12-36 months with the mean of 24 months. Three patients complicated with giant paravertebral psoas abscess occurred sinus tract in canal orifice of drainage tube after irrigation, and healed in 3 months after operation. Other 29 patients obtained healing of phase I without sinus tract formation. The clinical symptoms of all patients obvious improved at 2 weeks to 3 months after operation and no complications such as severe heart and lung, liver and kidney dyfunction were found. VAS scores and Cobb angles were improved from preoperative(6.77±1.23) points and(16.52±3.20)° to(4.71±0.69) points and (4.24±1.22)° at 1 week after operation. No infection and tuberculosis recurrence were found at follow-up period. ESR and CRP were normal at final follow-up and ASIA grade had obvious improved.

CONCLUSIONS: Percataneous endoscopic focal cleaning and drainage combined with posterior internal fixation is a simple, effective and safe method for tuberculosis of lumbar spine in elderly, and is worthy to recommend its clinical use.