This study was undertaken to compare anterior fusion surgery with combined fusion surgery and to evaluate the efficacy of a combined fusion procedure in the surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis.

From March 1990 to March 1998 thirty-four patients who had with spinal tuberculosis were divided into two groups depending on the surgical treatment methods that were to be used; one group consisted of twenty-two patients who were treated by an anterior fusion surgery, and the other group consisted of twelve patients who were treated by an combined fusion surgery. There were twelve males and twenty-two females who had a mean age of 45.6 year old in the study. The mean follow-up period was four years and six months. The clinical and radiological results that were obtained were evaluated.

In anterior fusion group, the mean loss of the corrected kyphotic angle was 6.9 degrees and an excellent or good result was shown in nineteen patients (86.4%). In the combined fusion group, the mean loss in the corrected kyphotic angle was 5.6 degrees and an excellent or good result was shown in ten patients (83.3%). There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups.

We conclude that an anterior radical excision of the involved body and an anterior fusion was the appropriate method for surgical treatment of spinal tuberculosis, and combined fusion should be carefully considered.