Debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation via anterior approach for treatment of cervicothoracic tuberculosis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of the patients with cervicothoracic tuberculosis who underwent radical debridement, reconstruction with bone autograft or allograft, and plate internal fixation via anterior approach. From June 2000 to December 2010, 20 patients with tuberculosis in cervicothoracic junction underwent a standard cervical approach, which was combined with a partial median osteotomy and transverse osteotomy through the synostosis between the manubrium and body of the sternum to expose the lesion adequately. Radical debridement was performed, then tricortical iliac crest bone autograft or allograft was placed and internal fixation was done to reconstruct the spinal column. The pathologic change regions were as follows: 10 in the C7-T1 segment, 6 in the T1 segment, 3 in the T1-T3 segment, and 1 in the T2-T3 segment. The classifications of Frankel were as follows: 2 at grade A, 4 at grade B, 7 at grade C, 2 at grade D, and 5 at grade E. There was no injury of blood vessel, spinal cord, or recurrent nerve during the surgery. The follow-up period ranged approximately 16 to 39 months. Bony fusion was obtained in all patients, and there was no internal fixation failure and tuberculosis recurrence in any of these patients. The nerve function of the spinal cord recovered at different degrees: 2 at grade A, 1 at grade B, 1 at grade C, 3 at grade D, and 13 at grade E. The anterior approach can provide direct and safe access to the lesion. The structural iliac crest autograft or allograft and anterior instrumentation could work effectively to stabilize the cervicothoracic junction.