Spinal tuberculosis

Introduction: Spinal tuberculosis is the most frequent and severe manifestation of osteoarticular tuberculosis. Objective: To identify the clinical and radiological aspects as well as the diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary modalities of spinal tuberculosis. Methods: Retrospective study including 17 patients hospitalized for spinal tuberculosis at the university hospital of GABES. Results: The average age was 46 years. Spinal pain was the revealing functional sign in 15 patients. Radiological exploration revealed spinal lesions in all patients, associated with epidural involvement (15 cases) and soft tissue abscess (6 cases). The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by culture or PCR on abscess puncture fluid or biopsy fragments in 5 patients and by histological evidence in 5 patients. In addition to anti-tuberculosis treatment, four patients underwent decompressive laminectomy. Conclusion: Spinal tuberculosis is prone to serious neurological complications, hence the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.