Management of Tuberculous Infection of the Spine

Spinal tuberculosis accounts for nearly half of all cases of musculoskeletal tuberculosis. It is primarily a medical disease and treatment consists of a multidrug regimen for 9–12 months. Surgery is reserved for select cases of progressive deformity or where neurological deficit is not improved by anti-tubercular treatment. Technology refinements and improved surgical expertise have improved the operative treatment of spinal tuberculosis. The infected spine can be approached anteriorly or posteriorly, in a minimally invasive way. We review the various surgical techniques used in the management of spinal tuberculosis with focus on their indications and contraindications

Severe Rigid Scoliosis: Review of Management Strategies and Role of Spinal Osteotomies

Severe rigid curves pose a considerable challenge to the treating spine surgeon. In our practice, approximately 30%–40% of patients with scoliosis present late with severe rigid scoliosis (>90° and <30% correction on bending films). Controversy still exists with regard to the ideal surgical strategy for correcting these rigid curves. Rigid scoliosis often presents in the form of either sharp angular or rounded deformities. Rounded deformities can be effectively managed with an anterior release to loosen the apex and posterior instrumentation (with osteotomies, if required). In contrast, severe rigid scoliosis, which is a sharp angular deformity, is not very amenable to anterior release and is best managed by posterior-only vertebral column resection and posterior instrumentation

Complications of growing rod technique for early onset scoliosis

Early onset scoliosis (EOS) is defined as scoliosis occurring in children less than 10 years of age. The EOS is a separate entity of discussion as development of lungs is restricted due to restricted growth of the chest wall, unlike in adolescent scoliosis which is more of a cosmetic problem. Therefore, in EOS, control of deformity at early stage and growth of the spine should go hand-in-hand. The most favored option in recent era is growing rods which allow growth of the spine but in a controlled manner. However due to fusionless nature, these techniques have high rate of complications. The complications primarily include implant related, wound related, and anesthetic complications. Recently impact of multiple surgeries on psychology of developing child has been reported. This narrative reviews the literature about complications associated with growing rod surgeries in EOS

Anterior versus posterior procedure for surgical treatment of thoracolumbar tuberculosis: A retrospective analysis

Background: Approach for surgical treatment of thoracolumbar tuberculosis has been controversial. The aim of present study is to compare the clinical, radiological and functional outcome of anterior versus posterior debridement and spinal fixation for the surgical treatment of thoracic and thoracolumbar tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: 70 patients with spinal tuberculosis treated surgically between Jan 2001 and Dec 2006 were included in the study. Thirty four patients (group I) with mean age 34.9 years underwent anterior debridement, decompression and instrumentation by anterior transthoracic, transpleural and/or retroperitoneal diaphragm cutting approach. Thirty six patients (group II) with mean age of 33.6 years were operated by posterolateral (extracavitary) decompression and posterior instrumentation. Various parameters like blood loss, surgical time, levels of instrumentation, neurological recovery, and kyphosis improvement were compared. Fusion assessment was done as per Bridwell criteria. Functional outcome was assessed using Prolo scale. Mean followup was 26 months. Results: Mean surgical time in group I was 5 h 10 min versus 4 h 50 min in group II (P>0.05). Average blood loss in group I was 900 ml compared to 1100 ml in group II (P>0.05). In group I, the percentage immediate correction in kyphosis was 52.27% versus 72.80% in group II. Satisfactory bony fusion (grades I and II) was seen in 100% patients in group I versus 97.22% in group II. Three patients in group I needed prolonged immediate postoperative ICU support compared to one in group II. Injury to lung parenchyma was seen in one patient in group I while the anterior procedure had to be abandoned in one case due to pleural adhesions. Functional outcome (Prolo scale) in group II was good in 94.4% patients compared to 88.23% patients in group I. Conclusion: Though the anterior approach is an equally good method for debridement and stabilization, kyphus correction is better with posterior instrumentation and the posterior approach is associated with less morbidity and complications

A survey of musculoskeletal and aesthetic abnormalities after thoracotomy in pediatric patients

Objective: To study the incidence and type of musculoskeletal and aesthetic abnormalities after thoracotomy in children. Materials and Methods: Children below 12 years of age who had undergone thoracotomy for any condition and have at least 2 years follow up were included in the study. Detailed assessment of the patients included: history and general examination, clinical examination of chest and musculoskeletal system, X-ray chest including bilateral shoulders [antero-posterior (AP), lateral, oblique], X-ray whole spine (AP, lateral, right and left side bending AP view). Results: Fifty-two pateints were recruited.The incidences of various clinically and radiologically assessed musculoskeletal and aesthetic abnormalities observed were: winging of scapula (5.7%), ipsilateral elevation of shoulder (5.7%), fixation of skin cicatrix to bony thorax (7.7%), maldevelopment of pectoral muscles (11.5%), asymmetry of the level of nipples (1.9%), rib fusion (5.7%), crowding of ribs (9.6%), mediastinal shift (3.8%), decreased space available for lungs (3.8%), Scoliosis with Cobb′s angle >10 0 (1.9%). Conclusions: The incidences of musculoskeletal and aesthetic abnormalities after posterolateral thoracotomies in children were low. Longer follow up of patients after thoracotomy is needed to pick up these abnormalities as the children grow

Safety of 3 different reintroduction regimens of antituberculosis drugs after development of antituberculosis treatment-induced hepatotoxicity

Background: Drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH) is the most common adverse drug reaction leading to interruption of antituberculosis treatment. Worldwide, different reintroduction regimens have been advocated, but no consensus guidelines are available. Reintroduction of antituberculosis drugs in patients with DIH has never been studied systematically. We aimed to compare the safety of 3 different reintroduction regimens of antituberculosis drugs in patients with antituberculosis DIH. Methods: A total of 175 patients with a diagnosis of antituberculosis DIH were randomized to receive 1 of 3 different predefined reintroduction regimens of antituberculosis drugs and were evaluated prospectively. Patients in arm I were given isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide simultaneously at full dosage from day 1. In arm II, drugs were administered in a manner similar to that recommended in the American Thoracic Society guidelines for reintroduction. In arm III, drugs were administered in accordance with British Thoracic Society guidelines. Results: Nineteen patients (10.9%) had recurrence of DIH during follow-up. Eight, 6, and 5 patients had recurrence of hepatitis in arms I, II, and III, respectively (P=.69). Of all the clinical and laboratory parameters, pretreatment serum albumin level was the only statistically significant predictor of future recurrence of DIH on reintroduction of antituberculosis drugs (P&lt;.01). Conclusions: The recurrence rate of hepatotoxicity was not significantly different between the 3 groups. According to the findings of the present study, all 3 of the potentially hepatotoxic drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide) can be reintroduced simultaneously at full dosage safely from day 1, especially for patients with bilateral extensive pulmonary tuberculosis, to halt disease transmission or to treat patients with life-threatening tuberculosis