POTT\'S Disease: a review of 58 cases

  Abstract   Backgrounds: Pott's disease is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and   presents with several clinical patterns. Delay in diagnosis and management may   cause serious complications. We conducted a retrospective study between 1991-   2006 to evaluate clinical presentation, radiologic and laboratory findings, and therapeutic   approaches to spinal tuberculosis.   Methods: We reviewed clinical presentation, radiological and laboratory findings   of 58 patients with spinal tuberculosis retrospectively. The diagnosis of tuberculous   spondylitis was based on characteristic histology or microbiologic evidence of   the disease. The results of study were recorded, and statistically analyzed by SPSS   11.5.   Results: The most frequent symptom was back pain (84%), with thoracic region   being the most affected site (46%). Paravertebral abscess noted in 67% of cases and   the average time for diagnosis was 16 months.   Conclusions: The 42 cases of this study underwent surgery and all were treated   with drug therapy for 12 months . There was no worsening of the neurologic status in   any patient. All patients with tuberculous spondylitis began to improve 3 months after   chemotherapy and healed within 12 months in nonsurgical and surgical groups.