ISSN : 2663-2187

Multistage Surgery for Management of Cervical Tuberculosis: a Systematic Review

Main Article Content

Rieva Ermawan, Dhanang Susilo, Juanda Setiajaya, Hilmi Amirul Haq, M Iyad Madani
» doi: doi:10.48047/AFJBS.7.5.2025.1068-1088

Abstract

Background: Cervical tuberculosis (CTB) is a rare but severe form of spinal tuberculosis, often leading to progressive kyphotic deformity, spinal instability, and neurological deficits. While anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) remains the cornerstone of treatment, surgical intervention is often required to achieve decompression, stabilization, and deformity correction. Multi-staged surgical approaches have been proposed to optimize outcomes in complex cases. This review seeks to synthesize the latest evidence on multi staged surgical techniques for CTB, focusing on indications, surgical approaches, clinical outcomes, and associated risks.Methods: We search systematically in the PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO databases in accordance with PRISMA criteria. Inclusion criteria were: 1) Retrospective or prospective cohort, case-based design; 2) CTB patients undergoing multi-staged surgery; 3) Peer-reviewed articles. Exclusion criteria comprised irretrievable full-text articles and non-human cohorts. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Eight studies were analyzed qualitatively, comprising 48 patients underwent multi-staged surgery. NOS showed that six studies were qualified as high quality and low bias risk. Two studies, classified as case-based studies, lacked compatibility to be assessed. Overall, multi-staged surgery resulted in significant pain relief (MD VAS reduction from 6.8 to 1.8 points), neurological improvement (ASIA grade enhancement in 75% of patients), and kyphotic angle correction (angle reduction from 40° to 15°). Fusion rates ranged from 70% to 100%, with insignificant recurrence or implant failure in the last follow-up. Conclusion: Multi-staged surgery is a valuable treatment option for CTB patients with severe deformity, spinal instability, children, or high infection risk. Nonetheless, it is not unequivocally better than single-staged surgery and should be utilized only in instances where the functional and biomechanical advantages surpass the extra surgical burden. Future studies should focus on long-term comparative trials to refine patient selection criteria and optimize surgical protocols for CTB management.

Article Details