Tuberculosis Spondylitis (Pott’s Disease) in Iran, Evaluation of 40 Cases

Objective: Because of increased incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in recent years, infective spondylitis is still a major problem in the world. Symptoms of spinal TB are often nonspecific, and clinicians should be aware of this entity.

Patients and Methods: In this study, epidemiologic aspects, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and radiologic studies of cases with documented tuberculosis spondylitis in Loghman Hospital were evaluated.

Results: Of our patients, 25 (62.5%) were men and 15 (37.5%) were women. The oldest was 77 and the youngest was 17 years old. Average of age was 47 years. Involved vertebras were as follow: cervical 10%, thoracic 37.5%, thoracolumbar 27.5% and lumbar 25%. Accompanying diseases were pulmonary TB (72%), TB pleural effusion (18%), paraspinal abscess (18%) and renal TB (2.5%). Clinical manifestations were back pain in 100%, anorexia in 100%, fever in 90%, cough in 53% and limb paralysis in 2.5% of patients. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate between 80-125 mm/h was detected in 40%, between 50-79 mm/h in 35%, between 20-49 mm/h in 15% and less than 20 mm/h in 10% of patients.

Conclusion: Prompt diagnosis and treatment of skeletal TB are important to prevent serious bone and joint destruction and severe neurologic sequels.