Abstract:Objective To analyze bacterial culture and drug sensitivity of spinal tuberculosis and to explore the curative effect and significance of the treatment for drug-resistant spinal tuberculosis by CT-guided para-vertebral puncture local therapy combined with systemic anti-tuberculosis drug treatment. Methods A total of 1,156 cases of spinal tuberculosis in the Central Hospital of Changsha from June 2005 to September 2013 were retrospectively studied. The pus and caseous substance of the bone lesions obtained by CT-guided para-vertebral puncture were used in Tuberculosis Mycobacterium culture and drug-sensitivity test. All the drug-resistant spinal tuberculosis patients were treated by CT-guided drug injection through para-vertebral puncture combined with systemic anti-tuberculosis drug treatment. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the clinical cure standard of spinal tuberculosis. Results Mycobacterium culture was positive in 286 cases, the positive rate was 24.74% (286/1,156); among which 82 cases were diagnosed as drug-resistant spinal tuberculosis and its drug-resistance rate was 28.67% (82/286). The drug-resistant rate to Isoniazid (H), Rifampicin (R) and Streptomycin (S) was 18.18% (52/286), 17.48% (50/286) and 15.38% (44/286) respectively. Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was diagnosed in 23 cases, its rate was 8.04% (23/286) in all the patients with positive Mycobacterium cultures. In the initial treatment group (n = 182), the initial drug-resistance rate was 18.13% (33/182); in the retreatment group (n = 104), the drug-resistance rate was 47.12% (49/104). The total drug-resistance rate of the two groups was statistically different (P < 0.05). Among all the patients, 72 cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis were cured by conservative treatment in Department of Internal Medicine, and 12 cases were transferred to surgical operation. During the follow-up of 1-3 years, none of the patients with drug-resistant spinal tuberculosis has recurrence. Conclusions CT-guided para-vertebral puncture local therapy is conducive to the early definite diagnosis of drug-resistant spinal tuberculosis. Combined standardized and personalized systemic anti-tuberculosis drug therapy is important for cure of drug-resistant spinal tuberculosis, prevention of complications and acquired drug-resistance.