Report on the clinical outcomes of using postural drainage with intervertebral space as the main focus for managing thoracolumbar tuberculosis

This study explores a treatment method for thoracolumbar tuberculosis (TB) focusing on the intervertebral space, which is often difficult to treat with conventional methods. The standard treatment of antibiotics is unable to penetrate avascular intervertebral discs. Conventional surgery is known for trauma and slow healing. The method involves postural drainage, where the patient's position is adjusted to help drain infected fluid from the intervertebral space. Catheter placement locations were determined based on clinical imaging results, and percutaneous catheter placement was performed with the assistance of foraminoscopy. The study reports on eight patients who underwent this treatment, showing significant improvements in various clinical indicators and no recurrence of TB during the follow-up period. The utilization of positional drainage in the intervertebral space, coupled with chemotherapy, has demonstrated encouraging clinical results.

• 1
  Postural drainage focusing on the intervertebral space, combined with chemotherapy, led to significant improvements in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) score, and Oswestry functional index.
• 2
  The average operation time for the postural drainage procedure was approximately 44 minutes, with minimal blood loss.
• 3
  During a follow-up period ranging from 36 to 122 months, none of the patients experienced a recurrence of tuberculosis.