Abstract
Purpose of the study: Pott’s disease of the cervical spine is exceptional. We collected 27 cases over a period of 30 years.
Material and methods: Mean patient age was 21 years. Male gender predominated. Most patients consulted because of cervical pain and 50% presented neurological disorders. Mean duration of symptoms was 14 months. A peri-spinal abscess was found in ten patients. The posterior cervical spine was affected in most patients and four presented suboccipital involvement. There was associated lung disease in two-thirds of the patients. Standard anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy was given associated with traction alignment in twelve patients to correct for kyphosis or associated spinal dislocation. Surgery was reserved for major bone destruction leading to instability or neurological disorders resistant to medical treatment.
Results: Mean follow-up was five years. The anatomic result after medical or surgical treatment was characterized by vertebral fusion in all patients. There were three serious neurological complications after surgery. Improvement was achieved in eleven of the twelve patients with inaugural neurological complications.
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