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 surgeon. 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