title: Application of a modified thoracoabdominal approach that avoids cutting open the costal portion of diaphragm during anterior thoracolumbar spine surgery.
abstract: In the present prospective randomized controlled study, we compared the feasibility and effectiveness of our modified thoracoabdominal approach to anterior thoracolumbar spine surgery without cutting open the costal portion of diaphragm (extradiaphragmatic approach) with the traditional transdiaphragmatic thoracoabdominal approach. The traditional combined thoracoabdominal approach in anterior thoracolumbar surgery for spine tuberculosis is effective but seriously damages the diaphragm and causes various lung complications. We used an extradiaphragmatic approach for complete anterior debridement, bone grafting, and nerve decompression and compared its efficacy and complications with those of the traditional transdiaphragmatic thoracolumbar approach.
  
  
  
  The study included 106 patients with spinal tuberculosis. After a standard preoperative chemotherapy regimen, all patients underwent posterior deformity correction and internal fixation, anterior debridement, decompression, and bone grafting. Patients were divided into the modified extradiaphragmatic thoracolumbar approach group (the modified group) and the traditional transdiaphragmatic thoracolumbar approach group (the traditional group). During the treatment, we strictly followed the standard chemotherapy regimen.
  
  
  
  The mean follow-up duration was 36.2 months (range 25-38 months). There were significant differences between the two groups in intraoperative blood loss, length of incision, recovery time, and postoperative complications but no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein values, kyphosis, and neurologic function, recovery of ability to live and work, and postoperative healing of bone grafts.
  
  
  
  The modified extradiaphragmatic thoracolumbar approach for anterior thoracolumbar spine surgery is as effective as the traditional approach. However, associated surgical trauma is minimal, and the incidence of pulmonary complications is low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, People's Republic of China. shi_jiandang@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiandang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ningkui
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 Shengli Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zili
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012272:Ribs; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Anterior thoracolumbar surgery; Extradiaphramgmatic approach; Modified thoracoabdominal approach; Thoracolumbar spine