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Pott's disease

Pott's disease is a presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that affects the spine. Precisely it is called tuberculous spondylitis and the original name was formed after Percivall Pott, a London sugeon. It is most commonly localized in the thoracic portion of the spine.

Common signs and symptoms are:

  • back pain
  • fever
  • night sweats
  • anorexia
  • weight loss

Diagnosis is based on:

  • blood tests - elevated ESR
  • skin tests
  • radiographs of the spine
  • bone scan
  • CT of the spine
  • bone biopsy

Late complications of the disease are:

  • severe kyphosis
  • sinus formation,
  • paraplegia (so called Pott's paraplegia)

Treatment:

  • non-operative - antituberculous drugs
  • immobilization of the spine region
  • operative



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