Management of spinal tuberculosis among sudanese patients

Introduction: Tuberculosis, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lung causing pulmonary tuberculosis. It can also affect intestine, meninges, bones and joints, lymph glands and other organs of the body. The disease is usually chronic with varying clinical manifestations. The most important form is the pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study had been carried out in The National Center of Neurological Sciences (NCNS), during January 2003 to December 2006. All Sudanese patients attending National center for Neurological Sciences and diagnosed clinically and Radiologically as having pott,s disease were included in the present study. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on all selected patients as a confirmatory diagnostic tool. Results: Thirty patients were included in the present study, male were 15 constituting 50%, and female were 15 and constituting 50%. The most affected age group was (50-59 )years (26.7%). 50% of the patients from Khartoum State, followed by, 10% from Kassala state. 25 of the patients (83%) were positive PCR for mycobacterium tuberculosis . Plain X-ray radiographs of the vertebral spine showed both vertebral destruction and wedge fracture in 26 patients (86.7%) , only wedge fracture in 2 patients (6.7%) and vertebral destruction in 1 patient (3.3%). MRI showed cord compression in all patients, and 27 patients had paravertebral abscess.