Tuberculosis of the Spine in Childhood

Abstract

Summary:. A study of tuberculosis of the spine in 52 Nigerian children, has revealed that the most commonly involved spinal segment is the thoraco-lumbar. Fifty-six per cent of the cases had neurological complications consisting mainly of spastic paraplegia/paresis. Management was successful in terms of bone healing in most of those who attended for follow-up, but the rate of recovery from associated paraplegia was faster in those managed with drug therapy and early debridement surgery than in cases treated with drugs alone. However, spinal deformities present at the commencement of therapy usually became more pronounced as the child grew, irrespective of the mode of treatment. It is suggested that the present methods of management need to be reviewed with a view to evolving other methods which would quicken the rate of healing and reduce or eliminate spinal deformity which in the thoracic area, predisposes to further respiratory infections and respiratory insufficiency.