Ghulam Mustafa Wardak, Hamidullah Panezai, Raz Muhammad Kakar.
Efficacy of Conservative Management with Anti Tuberculosis Treatment in patients with Spinal Tuberculosis.
Pak J Neuro Surg Jan ;18(2):156-61.

Introduction: Spinal TB is a result of haematogenous dissemination from primary focus in lungs or lymph nodes. Most of the under developed and developing world is endemic with TB as these populations are poorly nourished, overcrowded and live in sub standard social conditions and TB being an infectious disease spreads and sustains well in these overcrowded settings. Spinal TB is a common pathology in developing countries like Pakistan. We present a cohort study on findings of conservative treatment in patients suffering from spinal TB.Objective: To determine the efficacy of conservative treatment (ATT) in TB spine.Material and Methods: A cohort study was conducted in Bolan Medical Complex, Quetta in a period of 4 years from 2009 to 2013. A total of 135 cases of spinal tuberculosis were selected. Patients with cervical and cranio-cervical, and sacral TB were excluded from the study and also patients with any malignancy and other associated chronic joint conditions related to back were not selected. Patients were confirmed as a case of spinal TB using standard laboratory and radiology diagnostics. The patients were treated with ATT and followed up for 9 months until the completion of therapy.Results: The average age of patients was 48.8 years. Both male (50.4%) and female (49.6%) were equal in proportion in this study. Lumbar region was more affected (71.1%) with TB spine. Almost all study patients (99.3%) were cured with ATT whereas 1 (0.7%) patient was managed surgically.Conclusion: ATT is effective in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis provided timely diagnosis and initiation of therapy.

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