Management of spinal tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying the clinical benefit of chemotherapy with surgical intervention over chemotherapy alone for the treatment of spinal tuberculosis.


METHODS
Relevant RCTs were identified by computerized database searches. Trial eligibility and methodological quality were assessed and data were extracted and analysed using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. The primary outcome measure was kyphosis angle.


RESULTS
The literature search identified two RCTs conducted in the 1970s and 1980s and a Cochrane Database Systematic Review published in 2006. There were no significant between-group differences in kyphosis angle, bony fusion, bone loss or development of neurological deficit.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no obvious statistically significant clinical precedence to suggest that routine surgery will improve the prognosis of patients with spinal tuberculosis.
['Zhang|Xifeng|X|', 'Ji|Jianfei|J|', 'Liu|Bo|B|']
D000995:Antitubercular Agents D001842:Bone and Bones D016206:Databases, Bibliographic D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007738:Kyphosis D008297:Male D016017:Odds Ratio D011379:Prognosis D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic D016896:Treatment Outcome D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal
Spinal tuberculosis systematic review meta-analysis kyphosis bony fusion bone loss neurological deficit Pott disease