title: Two approaches for treating upper thoracic spinal tuberculosis with neurological deficits in the elderly: A retrospective case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study compared clinical outcomes of two diverse therapeutic strategies for upper thoracic (T1-4) spinal tuberculosis with neurological deficits in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed on 18 cases undergoing single-stage posterior transpedicular decompression, debridement, interbody fusion, and instrumentation (Group A). Sixteen cases underwent single- or two-stage anterior debridement, bone grafting, and posterior instrumentation (Group B). The clinical and radiographic results for these patients were analyzed and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed up for an average of 40.9 ± 4.0 months (range 36-48 months). Results demonstrated that the average operative duration, blood loss, hospital stays, and operative complication rate were lesser for Group A than for Group B. The average fusion time was 8.1 ± 1.5 months and 7.8 ± 2.9 months in Groups A and B, respectively (p>0.05). Cobb's angles were significantly corrected after surgical management, but loss of correction occurred in both groups. All patients had significant postoperative neurological improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-stage posterior transpedicular debridement, decompression, interbody fusion and instrumentation might be a better surgical treatment compared with combined posterior and anterior approaches. Such techniques may result in fewer complications and a better quality of life for elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: liuzheng_0629@sina.com.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 229061878@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xiyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: xzq19xzq88@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhengquan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 1985008521@qq.com.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zph12zph13@sina.com.
authors.forename: Penghui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: pengwei12pw13@sina.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zyp19zyp89@163.com.
authors.forename: Yupeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Elderly; Neurological deficits; Posterior internal fixation; Spinal tuberculosis; Upper thoracic vertebrae