An Extremely Rare Case of Upper Thoracic Salmonella Infection

Effectiveness of Kyphosis Reduction Using Cantilever Method in Thoracolumbar Spondylitis Tuberculosis: A Short-Term Follow-Up

Background

Kyphosis in spondylitis tuberculosis (STb) is more than just a cosmetic issue. It has a potentially detrimental effect on both spine-associated structures and cardiopulmonary function. It can be corrected in any stage of STb; however, the corrective surgery is challenging, especially in the late case, in which the additional stiffness of the spine can come into consideration. To date, the cantilever technique is still a gold standard for sagittal plane deformity correction. However, no study to date has explored its effectiveness for thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity, especially that caused by spondylitis tuberculosis.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of 16 consecutive cases of spondylitis tuberculosis with thoracolumbar kyphosis that underwent corrective surgery in our center in the period of 2020–2021. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the cantilever technique that we use for kyphotic correction in thoracolumbar STb patients.

Results

At the 3-months follow-up, the mean Cobb angle was 14.6°±10.27°, with the mean gain of 20.90°±12.00° and positively correlate with the thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK) correction (68.69%, r = 0.654, p = 0.001). The mean thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sagittal vertebral axis were 30.6°±13.08°, 39.4°±16.02°, and 1.4±4.09 cm, respectively, with sagittal Cobb difference of 12.70±9.85.

Conclusion

The kyphotic Cobb angle reduction by cantilever technique in the thoracolumbar area significantly improved the thoracolumbar kyphosis and realign the spinal sagittal axis. Thus, the cantilever technique remains the gold standard for sagittal plane deformity correction which can be applied for kyphotic deformity correction in thoracolumbar STb cases.

Cantilever method for severe kyphotic deformity correction in spondylitis tuberculosis: A technical note and literature review

Background

The kyphotic deformity is more than just a cosmetic disfigurement. It is potentially life-threatening and disturbs the quality of life by causing cardiopulmonary dysfunction, spinal imbalance, and other associated problems. Corrective surgery is challenging but it is needed to bring the spinal balance back thus halting the progressiveness of the deformity. The cantilever technique is a gold standard to correct the sagittal plane deformity.

Methods

This is a review article with some case illustrations from Author's experience.

Objective

We aim to review the cantilever technique for kyphotic correction in spondylitis tuberculosis patients.

Conclusion

The cantilever technique is the standard for sagittal plane deformity correction that can be applied for kyphotic deformity correction in spondylitis tuberculosis cases. Developing the safest techniques and instrumentation is crucial to achieving spinal balance with minimal risk of morbidities.

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Kyphotic deformity is more than just a cosmetic problem.

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Kyphotic deformity is potentially life-threatening and disturbs quality of life.

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Deformity correction surgery is challenging.

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Cantilever technique is a gold standard to correct sagittal plane deformity.