A Rare Disease, Spinal Tuberculosis-First Case Report From Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Spinal tuberculosis is the tuberculosis of the spine presented as the extra pulmonary tuberculosis. It is chronic and destructive form of Tb which slowly progress and often leads to severe complications like paralysis, destruction of intervertebral disc, kyphosis or gibbus formation. It is rarely encountered that leads to its misdiagnosis. Furthermore the most prevalent symptom for spinal of spinal tuberculosis is lower back pain. We report a 50 year old male case, with a history of 4 year persistent lower back and 2 months of leg pain along with weakness. When he was presented to the hospital he was febrile with temperature of 38°C. He was weak, couldn’t walk without support and had weight loss during the past few months. Rapid diagnosis must be done for appropriate implementation of treatment. Along with physical examination CBC, ESR, DLC tests were done for proper diagnosis of disease. Further tests confirmed the spinal tuberculosis. Upon proper diagnosis the conservative treatment of patient was started. But the doctor also recommended surgical treatment for speedy recovery of patient. After the successful surgery the patient health was improved greatly. Anti-tuberculosis drugs regimen was followed during the stay in the hospital. As a result the patient health was recovered speedily after the appropriate treatment. Soon after the treatment the patient was able to walk again on his two feet without support.