A Divya1, Dhaval P Shukla2, Veenakumari H Bahubali1, Rose Dawn Bharath3, B N Nandeesh4, P Kruthika1, Dwarakanath Srinivas2, Nagarathna Siddaiah5. 1. Department of Neuromicrobiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 3. Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 4. Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 5. Department of Neuromicrobiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Electronic address: nagarathnachandrashekar@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) is a significant health problem in both developing and developed countries. Spinal tuberculosis (STB) is one of the significant forms of EPTB lacking epidemiological data. The present study was conducted to study the clinical, radiological, microbiological and histopathological features, treatment and outcome of Spinal tuberculosis. METHODS: This study was conducted for a duration of 19 years, from 2000 to 2018 at the department of Neuromicrobiology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru. It comprised of 252 patients with STB. All patients were diagnosed with the clinical features and confirmed by radiological, microbiological and histopathological findings. RESULTS: Results were tabulated and statistically studied. The most common age group is 30-40 years with male preponderance. Most patients presented with motor paraplegia/para paresis (99.6%). Thoracic spine was the most common vertebra affected (47.62%). The commonest imaging feature is soft tissue collection (81.74%). Most common histopathological feature was necrotising granulomatous inflammation (65.87%). Microbiology reports showed growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in 29.76%, Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) smear showed acid fast bacilli (AFB) in 25.79%. Anti tubercular drugs and surgery were advised in 55.55% patients and only anti TB drugs for 39.28%. The entire course of anti tubercular treatment (ATT) was completed in 60.71% and 4.76% were defaulters. CONCLUSION: Spinal tuberculosis is a global disease, timely diagnosis with clinical, imaging, microbiological, histopathological features and complete course of anti-tubercular treatment along with symptomatic treatment appears to be safe and effective.
BACKGROUND: Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) is a significant health problem in both developing and developed countries. Spinal tuberculosis (STB) is one of the significant forms of EPTB lacking epidemiological data. The present study was conducted to study the clinical, radiological, microbiological and histopathological features, treatment and outcome of Spinal tuberculosis. METHODS: This study was conducted for a duration of 19 years, from 2000 to 2018 at the department of Neuromicrobiology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru. It comprised of 252 patients with STB. All patients were diagnosed with the clinical features and confirmed by radiological, microbiological and histopathological findings. RESULTS: Results were tabulated and statistically studied. The most common age group is 30-40 years with male preponderance. Most patients presented with motor paraplegia/para paresis (99.6%). Thoracic spine was the most common vertebra affected (47.62%). The commonest imaging feature is soft tissue collection (81.74%). Most common histopathological feature was necrotising granulomatous inflammation (65.87%). Microbiology reports showed growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in 29.76%, Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) smear showed acid fast bacilli (AFB) in 25.79%. Anti tubercular drugs and surgery were advised in 55.55% patients and only anti TB drugs for 39.28%. The entire course of anti tubercular treatment (ATT) was completed in 60.71% and 4.76% were defaulters. CONCLUSION:Spinal tuberculosis is a global disease, timely diagnosis with clinical, imaging, microbiological, histopathological features and complete course of anti-tubercular treatment along with symptomatic treatment appears to be safe and effective.