Introduction: Tuberculosis was a leading cause of mortality in the beginning of the twentieth century. Improvement in the socio-economic status led to a major decline in the prevalence even before the introduction of anti tubercular drugs. However, it continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries like Bangladesh. The objective of current study is to observe the results of surgical treatment of tuberculosis of the spine.

Methods: This is a retrospective study. This was carried out in the department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurosciences & Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of January 2013 to December 2017. The patients were divided into two groups. One group were treated by surgery without instrumentation and other group were treated by surgery with instrumentation. All patients given anti tubercular drugs for 18 months. The outcome of the treatment were recorded and analysed.

Results: Total number 127 cases were treated during the study period with the diagnosis of tuberculosis of the spine. The mean age of the patient was 32 years. Among them in 72 cases only surgical decompression done and other 55 cases were treated by surgical decompression and stabilization. Significant neurological improvement observed in the both groups of patients. Only one patient failed to improve neurologically. Two patients developed resistant to first first line antitubercular drugs and one patient showed hardwire failure.

Conclusions: Early surgical intervention is optimum mode of treatment. Surgery without instrumentation is the preferred option in developing country like Bangladesh.

Patient Care: Rational choice surgical procedure helped the patient to avoid unnecessary surgical costs.

Learning Objectives: Surgery with or without instrumentation have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. Judicious choice of surgical procedure is very much important.

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