Chemotherapy alone for early-stage spinal tuberculosis

English Keywords:Spinal tuberculosis  Anti-TB chemotherapy  Early stage  Treatment

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objective：To evaluate the effect and indication of chemotherapy alone for early-stage spinal tuberculosis.Method：From January 2000 to June 2007，36 patients from the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University suffering from spinal tuberculosis undergoing anti-TB chemotherapy alone were retrospectively reviewed.The chemotherapeutic regimen was combined medication（3HRZS/1-15HRZ），and the course wａｓ 4~18 months.The effect of anti-tuberculosis，including clinical manifestation，the phantom study（bone heals，raised abnormal），the neurofunction and complications related to tuberculosis chemotherapy were reviewed.The chemotherapy course can be adjusted individually according to the result of following up.Result：All cases were followed up for 3-5 years.Of them，16 patients healed with less than 4 months of the short-course chemotherapy.The patients with poor outcome had their course extended to 9 months.14 patients healed completely.The remaining 6 patients healed by 18 months long-range chemotherapy.At final follow－up，all patients had body temperature recoverｅｄ to normal，weight increasｅｄ，the local pain disappearｅｄ，and ｔｈｅ　bony union；while 6 cases　had kyphosis angle increased（<30°，ａpplication of external fixation）.All patients had ESR decreasｅｄ to normal．8 cases（22%） presented with the medicine related complications，which resolved after ceasing chemotherapy and responsive intervention.Conclusion：The routine chemotherapy alone is reliable for early-stage spinal tuberculosis.