Tuberculosis of lower cervical spine--a prospective study
Prabhakar, M.M.; Thakker, T.H.; Jadav, B.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 105(9): 500; 502 504 Passim
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 18338473 Document Number: 611663
Tuberculosis was a leading cause of mortality in the beginning of the twentieth century. Tuberculosis of the spine is one of the oldest diseases afflicting humans. A prospective study was carried out among 45 cases of tuberculosis of lower cervical spine and an attempt was made to highlight some of its features. Pain and stiffness were important and dominant complaints. Commonest level affected was C5-C6 vertebrae. The overall incidence of cord compression was 37.8 per cent. The commonest modality of treatment was antituberculous drugs, anterior excision of diseased bone and tricortical bone grafting. This regime rapidly relieves pain, compressive respiratory symptoms due to large abscess and neurological deficit.