Extreme lateral interbody fusion and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the minimally invasive treatment of thoracic tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE: As a minimally invasive intervertebral fusion technique popularized in recent years, extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) has various advantages. In this study, we describe the application and efficacy of XLIF for the treatment of thoracic tuberculosis (TB), as this may be an emerging treatment option for thoracic TB in the future. METHODS: We present the case of a 75-year-old man who had suffered from chest and back pain for 1 month. Imaging studies showed destruction of the T12 and L1 vertebral bodies and the T12–L1 intervertebral disc, accompanied by formation of a paravertebral abscess. After 2 weeks of standard anti-TB treatment, the patient underwent debridement of the lesions, XLIF, and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. RESULTS: The patient’s chest and back pain were significantly alleviated after the operation. The patient recovered well, and as of the most recent follow-up had no obvious limitation in thoracolumbar spine function. CONCLUSIONS: XLIF combined with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for the treatment of thoracic TB can allow for TB lesion debridement, discectomy, and interbody fusion under direct visualization, and can effectively improve patient prognosis.