Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of surgery and its clinical outcome in treating pa- tients with lumbosacral spine tuberculosis.Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted to ana- lyze the treatment outcome of 53 patients with lumbosacral spine tuberculosis.Among them,37 pa- tients received surgical treatment(with 21 patients had anterior debridement and auto-grafting;16 patients had posterior debridement and auto-grafting.All patients had standard anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy for 9-12 months.Results Low-back pain in the 37 patients was relived substantially or disappeared 4 weeks after the operation.Weight was gained in 34 patients and ESR in majority of patients became normal 6 weeks after the operation.Focus was absorbed in 36 patients 12 months after operation.Focus was not absorbed in 1 patient with the internal auto-grafting becoming loose Average fusion duration was 4 months for one-segment and 6 months for two-segment.Focus was absorbed in 36 patients.Conclusions Surgical strategy of spinal tuberculosis in lumbosacral region is based on focus character.Anterior approach is appropriate for lesions debridement and bone graft,and posterior is essential for stabilization because anterior internal fixation is difficult.Poste- rior debridement is indicated for lesions localized in vertebral body and disc,and simultaneously the bone graft and internal fixation are operated.

Key words: Spinal tuberculosis, Lumbosacral spine, Internal fixation