Application of an antibiotic crescent-shaped polymethylmethacrylate strut in thoracic vertebral tuberculosis.
Spinal tuberculosis accounts for up to 50% of all cases with musculoskeletal     tuberculosis. In patients needing surgical treatment, the use of anterior     instrumentation offers the theoretical advantage of more complete debridement     and decompression, safer mobilization and reliable deformity correction.     However, the placement of instrumentation in an infected area remains a matter     of debate. We present a patient with thoracic vertebral tuberculosis using an     antibiotic crescent-shaped PMMA strut for spinal reconstruction and fusion. The     patient recovered satisfactory and no complication was observed in the     follow-up. The antibiotic crescent-shaped PMMA strut can be used as a carrier     for antibiotic drug and an ideal alternative for anterior spinal reconstruction.     However, long-term outcome in this case requires further evaluation.
Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Department of Orthopedics, Changsha, China. amiba3000@163.com
Wan
W
Jun
Kang
K
Yi-Jun
Chen
C
Fei
Lv
L
Guo-Hua
Li
L
Dong-Zhe
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate