History of spine surgery for tuberculous spondylodiscitis.

For those stricken with tuberculosis, a disease that was present in ancient times, treatment was originally limited to conservative treatment including high altitude, fresh air, rest, and immobilization, manual reduction devices, and surgical procedures. Mortality and morbidity were high until the advent of antitubercular chemotherapy in the 1940s. Today multidrug regimen enable good disease clearance and also make direct surgical debridement without complications possible. Antitubercular drugs have reduced mortality by 72.5%. Surgical intervention is reserved for selected situations.