Neurological complications of spinal tuberculosis in children.

Neurological complications of thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis were studied in 32 patients under the age of 16 years. The majority had lesions involving three or more vertebral bodies. Paraplegia occurred in 8 patients and was always associated with bladder and bowel dysfunction. Lesions located at T4/5 were most commonly accompanied by paraplegia. Deterioration of the neurological status was related to the degree of spinal stenosis, whereas the degree of kyphosis was of less importance. Radiculopathy is rare in children with Pott's disease.