Efficacy evaluation of posterior internal fixation combined with percutaneous endoscopic debridement for spinal tuberculosis

Objective: To study the efficacy of posterior internal fixation combined with percutaneous endoscopic debridement in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. (TB). Methods: Fifty-seven patients with mono-segmental lumbar TB were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty patients who received surgery through posterior internal fixation combined with percutaneous endoscopic debridement were included in the observation group, and 27 patients who received surgery through the combined anterior-posterior approach were included in the control group. The length of the operation, the intraoperative bleeding volume, the postoperative length of stay, the postoperative change in the Cobb angle, the abscess absorption time, the bone fusion time, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, the postoperative neurological function recovery, and the postoperative pain were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results: The observation group had significantly shorter operations and lengths of stay and smaller intraoperative bleeding volumes than the control group (all P<0.05). After surgery, The Cobb angle improved significantly in the two groups (both P<0.05) but was not significantly different between them (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in bone fusion or abscess absorption time between the two groups (both P>0.05). After surgery, the CRP levels and ESR were significantly decreased in both groups (both P<0.05) but were not significantly different between them (both P>0.05). There were no differences in the preoperative and postoperative neurological functions between the two groups (both P>0.05). After surgery, the neurological functions significantly improved in both groups (both P<0.05). The VAS scores were significantly decreased in both groups at 1 week and 1 month after surgery, and the decrease was more significant in the observation group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Posterior internal fixation combined with percutaneous endoscopic debridement is effective in the treatment of mono-segmental lumbar TB, as it is characterized by short operations, minor bleeding, a quick recovery, and marked postoperative pain relief. Therefore, this surgical approach is worthy of promotion in clinical practice.