Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Posterior-Only Transforaminal Debridement and Interbody Fusion With Preservation of Posterior Ligamentous Complex Versus Conventional Posterior-Only Debridement and Interbody Fusion for Thoracic Spine Tuberculosis: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial- A Pilot Study

Objective: The main objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy and feasibility of surgical management for patients with thoracic spinal tuberculous spondylitis (STB) by using posterior-only transforaminal debridement and interbody fusion (PTDIF) with preservation of posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) and noninferior of PTDIF compared with conventional posterior-only debridement and interbody fusion (CPDIF). Methods: From January 2019 to January 2022, a prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted in which patients with thoracic STB were enrolled and assigned to undergo either the PTDIF group (group A) or CPDIF group (group B) in a 1:1 ratio. The clinical efficacy was evaluated on average operation time, blood loss, hospitalization durations, visual analogue scale, Oswestry Disability Index scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-Reactive protein (CRP), and neurological function recovery using the American Spinal Injury Association's impairment scale and operative complications. Radiological measurements included kyphosis correction, loss of correction. The outcomes were compared between the groups at preoperation, postoperaion, and final follow-up. Results: All 65 patients were completely cured during the follow-up. The intraoperative blood loss and operation time in group B were more than that in group A. All patients were pain- free at the final follow-up visit. ESR, CRP returned to normal limits in all patients 3 months after surgery. All patients had improved neurological signs. No significant difference was found in kyphosis angle correction, loss of correction between the 2 groups. Conclusion: PTDIF, with preservation of PLC, achieved debridement, decompression, and reconstruction of the spine's stability, similar to CPDIF in the surgical treatment of thoracic STB. PTDIF has less surgical trauma with less intraoperative blood loss and operation time.