Treatment response and complications during management of Pott's spine

The global incidence of TB in 2016 was 10.4 million and India accounts for a quarter of the global burden of TB. It is estimated that there are 2.79 million people with TB in India. About 10% of extra pulmonary TB involves bone and joints. Spinal TB accounts for half the cases of skeletal TB. The incidence of spinal TB is 1-4% of total TB cases, then it is estimated that only in India approximately 60,000 spinal TB cases exist.To report the pattern of recovery and predictors of outcome of Pott's spine. The intervention comprised of four drug antitubercular treatment, rest, immobilization, and ultrasonography or computerized tomography guided aspiration or biopsy as indicated outcome measures were six months Nurick grade, and mRS and complications like drug induced hepatitis (DIH) and paradoxical worsening.Seventy-three patients with Pott's spine, median age 36 (11-73) years, 32 (43.8%) females were included. The neurological signs were present in 44 (64.4%) patients. At six months, median Nurick grade improved from 4 to 2 and;and 70% patients had a good outcome as defined by mRS.The predictors of poor outcome were weight loss, non-ambulatory state on admission and paradoxical worsening.It is concluded that neurological involvement in Pott's spine was present in 64% patients, paradoxical worsening (deterioration in symptoms after one month of ATT) in 11% and DIH in 16%. Weight loss, non -ambulatory state on admission and paradoxical worsening predicted poor outcome.