Vertebral TB

  • Pott disease: vertebral body osteomyelitis and intervertebral discitis from tuberculosis (TB)

Aetiology

  • 1/2 have skin and soft tissue infection
  • Less than half have pulmonary TB
  • Immunosuppression/HIV

Clinical presentation

  • Often no systemic symptoms
  • Clinical presentation is characteristically slow and insidious
  • Back pain
  • Lower limb weakness/paraplegia
  • Kyphotic deformity

Investigations

  • Imaging - x-ray, MRI
  • Check for immunosuppression/HIV

Management

  • As for TB
  • Analgesics
  • Surgery may be required - immobilisation of spine region, drainage of spinal abscesses