Tuberculous spondylitis in adults

Abstract

We treated 107 adults with spinal tuberculosis. The average age was 41.8 years (range, sixteen to seventy-five years). Diagnosis was difficult: bone scans were negative in 35 per cent; gallium scans, negative in 70 per cent; and results of tuberculin skin tests, negative in 14 per cent. Five neurologically impaired patients had no discernible bone lesions when they were first seen but were found to have either intradural or extradural tuberculomas or tuberculous arachnoiditis. Our indications for a spinal operation were neurological impairment, spinal instability, or failure of medical management, and an operation was required in fifty-three of the 107 patients. Anterior decompression and fusion was the surgical procedure of choice. Ninety-four per cent of neurologically impaired patients recovered normal neurological function after anterior decompression; 79 per cent, after non-surgical treatment; and 55 per cent, after laminectomy. Neurological recovery and relief of pain occurred more rapidly in the surgically treated group. Kyphosis did not worsen in any patient, whether treated medically or surgically. There were no organisms that were resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, or ethambutol, and there was neither progression nor reactivation of disease after twelve months of adequate chemotherapy.