What is tuberculosis of the spine?
Spinal Tuberculosis, also known as Pott’s Disease, is a spinal infection caused by tuberculosis that can lead to osteomyelitis, kyphotic deformity, and spinal mechanical instability.
Which part of spine is affected by TB?
Pott disease is tuberculosis of the spine, usually due to haematogenous spread from other sites, often the lungs. The lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae areas of the spine are most often affected. It causes a kind of tuberculous arthritis of the intervertebral joints.
How is TB of the spine treated?
Combination of rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide for two months followed by combination of rifampicin and isoniazid for a total period of 6, 9, 12 or 18 months is the most frequent protocol used for treatment of spinal TB [9].
How is TB of the spine diagnosed?
In developing countries, spinal tuberculosis is usually diagnosed with clinical features and plain radiographs. Plain radiographs may show radiolucent lesions, joint space narrowing, anterior wedging of vertebral bodies, kyphosis, and calcified abscesses of soft tissue.
Is spine TB curable?
Yes, spinal TB is curable if detected early and provided with proper medicinal compliance. According to experts, it may take 20 to 24 months of different antibiotics treatment along with therapy to get rid of spinal TB.
Does spine TB spread?
TB disease in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.
How long does TB spine take to heal?
The progression of spinal tuberculosis is slow and insidious. The total duration of the illness varies from few months to few years, with average disease duration ranging from 4 to 11 months. Usually, patients seek advice only when there is severe pain, marked deformity, or neurological symptoms.
Can spine TB spread?
Unlike pulmonary tuberculosis, studies have shown that bone or spinal tuberculosis may not spread through the air. The infection can spread through your blood if you come in contact with an infected person’s body fluids or pus. Skeletal tuberculosis can also be caused by pulmonary tuberculosis.
Can spinal TB Patient walk?
Patients with tuberculous involvement of the spine usually present with back pain or neck pain, which is exaggerated on sitting, standing, and walking.
Can spinal TB cause death?
Spinal tuberculosis is the form most dangerous, as it may cause bone destruction of the vertebral body, spinal deformity and/or paraplegia and pulmonary insufficiency secondary to the deformity of thoracic cage.
Is spinal TB curable?
Is TB spine curable?