Surgical Correction of Thoracic and Thoracolumbar TB Kyphosis by Posterior Only Approach Using Rajasekaran’s Kyphosis Classification

Study designProspective analysis of retrospective data.ObjectivesTo analyse the clinical and radiological outcomes of thoracic and thoracolumbar TB kyphosis by a posterior-only approach using kyphosis classification.MethodsPatients with thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal TB who underwent posterior-only surgical correction for kyphotic deformity >30° were categorized into Group: A (Active TB) and Group B (Healed TB). Demographic, clinical and radiological data were collected, and kyphotic deformity was classified according to Rajasekaran classification.Results52 patients with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Group A included 25 patients with mean preop kyphosis of 39.5° (31.2°-53.7°), and Group B included 27 patients with mean preop kyphosis of 85° (44.2°-125.2°). Among 25 patients in Group A, 19 were Type IIIA, and 6 were Type IIA kyphosis. In Group B, 18 patients were Type IIIB, 5 were Type III C, 3 were Type IIA, and 1 was IIIA kyphosis. All patients in group A underwent posterior column shortening by Smith-Peterson Osteotomy, with 14 patients requiring additional anterior column reconstruction. Patients in Group B required Closing-Opening Wedge Osteotomy (18), Halo followed by vertebral column resection (6), disc bone osteotomy (2) and pedicle subtraction osteotomy (1). Mean kyphosis at 2 years follow-up was 20.8° (11.2°-32.8°) in Group A and 53.5° (8.1°- 96.4°) in Group B.ConclusionsCorrection of kyphosis in spinal TB involves completely different strategies in active and healed disease. Hence, a posterior-only treatment approach using Rajasekaran's kyphosis classification can help surgeons in appropriate decision-making.