title: Tuberculosis of the cervical spine.
abstract: Tuberculosis of the cervical spine is rare, comprising 3-5% of cases of tuberculosis of the spine. Eight patients with tuberculosis of the cervical spine seen during 1989-1992 were reviewed. They all presented with neck pain. The 4 children presented with a kyphotic deformity. In all the children the disease was extensive, with a large prevertebral abscess formation, while in the adults it was localised to one or two motion segments. Cord compression was present in 4 of the 8 patients. All the patients were treated with antituberculosis drugs and 6 underwent surgery. There was full neurological recovery in all patients. The kyphosis was improved though not fully corrected. There was a problem in stabilisation of severe involvement of the body and dens of C2. Surgery seems to play a major role in the treatment of tuberculosis of the cervical spine.
authors.affiliation: Ga-Rankuwa Hospital and Orthopaedic Spine Unit, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukhele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy