Anterior instrumentation in tuberculous spondylitis (Pott's disease): case report

We report a case of a surgical treatment with anterior instrumentation in tuberculous spondylitis (Pott's disease), in a 71 years old woman, that was in treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, with lumbar pain, progressive disability to walk, kyphotic deformit and vesical dysfunction. Magnetic resonance image presents a lesion in the bodies of T12 and L1, with paravertebral abscess. The patient was treated surgically by transthoracic-abdominal approach. The vertebral bodies were cut off and the spine were instrumented anteriorly with a mesh cage and a Z plate. This procedure permits a good arthrodesis and a immediately stabilization of the spine, without any complication of the infection. The patient was seen a year after the surgery and is free of infection, without motor deficit, pain or reminiscent kyphosis.