Abstract: Objective To understand perioperative nutritional status in patients with spinal tuberculosis, in order to provide targeted nutritional intervention. Methods One hundred and thirty-two cases of spinal tuberculosis patients hospitalized between Jan-Oct. 2014 in Beijing Chest hospital were investigated. Patients received nutrition risk assessments (nutrition risk screening, NRS2002) within the 24 hours admitted, and 6 days, 13 days after the operation respectively. Patients also received the blood check for red protein (Hb), and Lym (LY%), count of lymphocytes (LY) and albumin (ALB) in the next day of admission, the 1^st day, 6^th days and 13th days after the operation. SPSS 17.0 software was used for data entry and statistical analysis, χ² test was used for comparison of the nutrition risk incidence in different points in time, P<0.05 is considered the statistically significant. Results The incidence of peri-operative nutritional risk was up to 87.88%（116/132）in the 6th postoperative day. To compare indicators of nutrition-related testing at different points, the 6th postoperative day, Hb((106.27±16.74) g/L) and ALB((31.36±3.84) g/L) measuring values are lower than any other time point; the Hb measurement was (130.79±16.67) g/L, (113.88±15.57) g/L, (113.38±18.08) g/L; ALB measurement was (38.74±3.90) g/L, (31.47±3.55) g/L and (34.82±3.68) g/L respectively in the 1st day after hospitalization, 1st and 13th postoperative day. Hb and ALB measurements in the 6th postoperative day was statistically significant different in comparison with other point in time, (χ² values is 60.151, 63.951 respectively, P both are <0.001).In 1st postoperative day, the LY% measurement was (9.83±4.84)% and LY was (1.26±0.79)×10⁹/L, lower than any other point in time. the LY% measurement was (23.59±8.37)% (18.69±5.97)% (21.50±6.78)% and LY measurement was （1.62±0.56）×10⁹/L，（1.39±0.60）×10⁹/L，（1.59±0.61）×10⁹/L respectively in the next day of hospitalization, the 6th and 13th postoperative day. LY% value in the 1st postoperative day was statistically different with other time points (χ² values are: 52.370, 27.662 respectively,P both are <0.001). Conclusion The perioperative patients of spinal tuberculosis have high nutritional risk. Patients have poor nutritional status within 1 week after surgery, therefore we should focus on nutritional interventions in order to promote recovery.

Key words: Tuberculosis, spinal/surgery, Perioperative period, Nutritional status, Nutrition surveys