Objective To explore reasons failed focal debridement in treating spinal tuberculosis patients and methods to cope with them. Method One hundred nine patients with spinal tuberculosis who failed initial focal debridement from 1987 to 1996 were reviewed. Result The reasons of operational failure were found to be the use of unreasonable regimens and existance of drug resitant strains; inappropriate operational indication, approach and treatment during operation; lesions involving several vertebras, skippin...