OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of the anterior surgical approach for thoracolumbar spine tuberculosis and analyzed the causes of the surgical complications and the countermeasures.

METHODSFrom Jan 1996 to Dec 2005, 120 patients with thoracolumbar spine tuberculosis underwent operations through the anterior approach either following the primary diagnosis (115 cases) or for recurrence (5 cases).

RESULTSIntraoperative pleural rupture occurred in 4 cases, and rupture of the external iliac vein occurred 1 case. Three patients had damages of the T12 dorsal ramus. One patient developed venous embolism of the lower extremity after the operation, two had paralytic ileus and 1 had false diabetes insipidus. Of the 5 recurrent patients, 1 died due to alcoholic cirrhosis and acute liver failure, 1 received a third operation for loosened internal fixation, and 1 had recurrence due to extensive drug resistance (XDR).

CONCLUSIONStandardized antituberculous therapy is fundamental for preventing the recurrence of tuberculosis, and individualized antituberculous therapy adjustment according to the results of bacterial culture and drug sensitivity tests can be the most effective means for preventing drug resistance and reducing tuberculosis recurrence.