Is duration of preoperative anti-tuberculosis treatment a risk factor for postoperative relapse or non-healing of spinal tuberculosis?

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the relationship between spinal TB postoperative recurrence or non-healing and duration of preoperative anti-TB treatment (ATT).
METHODS: From January 2004 to January 2013, patients who underwent surgery for spinal TB and met this study's inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. Observed parameters were age, sex, initial ESR, preoperative ESR, degree of ESR change, initial CRP, preoperative CRP, degree of CRP change, duration of preoperative ATT, surgical approach, presence of internal fixation, location of spinal lesion, number of involved segments, duration of operation, and intraoperative blood loss. The data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses for spinal TB recurrence or non-healing to determine related risk factors.
RESULTS: A total of 223 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 84 female and 139 male patients with a mean age of 42.2 years (range 2-85 years). The follow-up period was 18-72 months (average 28.7 months). Among 223 patients observed, 23 patients had postoperative relapse or non-healing (10.3 %) during the follow-up period. Statistical analysis indicated that the location of a spinal lesion was significantly associated with postoperative relapse or non-healing. Risk of postoperative relapse or non-healing in thoracolumbar TB was 2.524-fold (95 % CI 1.026-6.580) that of lumbosacral TB.
CONCLUSIONS: Duration of preoperative ATT may not be a risk factor for postoperative recurrence or non-healing of spinal TB. Junctional zones such as the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar junction have a higher recurrence rate than non junctional.