Pott disease: vertebral body osteomyelitis and intervertebral discitis from tuberculosis (TB)

Aetiology

• 1/2 have skin and soft tissue infection
• Less than half have pulmonary TB
• Immunosuppression/HIV

Clinical features

• Often no systemic symptoms
• Clinical presentation is characteristically slow and insidious
• Back pain
• Lower limb weakness/paraplegia
• Kyphotic deformity

Investigations

• Imaging: x-ray, MRI
• Check for immunosuppression/HIV

Management

• As for TB
• Analgesics
• Surgery may be required - immobilisation of spine region, drainage of spinal abscesses