[Anterior interbody autografting and internal fixation for primary surgical management of thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis].

Objectives: To verify the importance of early reconstruction of spinal stability and to evaluate the safety of anterior instrumentation in surgical management of spinal tuberculosis.
Methods: Eleven cases of thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis were treated with primary anterior debridement, interbody autografting and Z-plate fixation from October 1997 to January 1999.
Results: All the 11 cases healed without any recurrence after follow-up for an average of 16 months. Spinal fusion occurred in 3.8 months on average after surgery. 18 degrees of kyphosis correction was achieved with no associated complication.
Conclusions: Early reconstruction of spinal stability plays an important role in surgical management of spinal tuberculosis, and it is safe to implant anterior titanium spinal instrument in tuberculosis foci.