Abstract
The authors present a small case series to demonstrate the feasibility of employing the percutaneous approach to treating cervical spine tuberculosis. They placed a puncture needle under CT-guidance into the abscess to drain and debride preand paravertebral and retropharyngeal abscesses with endoscopically assisted technique. A pigtail catheter was placed into the abscess cavity for continuous intralesional delivery of antituberculous chemotherapy. Clinical outcomes were favorable. None of the three patients in this case series report experienced neurological function deterioration or needed more aggressive follow-up surgery. In this chapter, the authors set out to demonstrate the utility of the spinal endoscope in other areas of application distinct from decompression commonly required in degenerative spine disease.
Keywords: Cervical tuberculosis, Endoscopic debridement, Intralesional chemotherapy.