title: Spinal cord compression secondary to vertebral echinococcosis.
abstract: We describe a patient with progressive lower limb weakness and paresthesia 3 days after falling from a considerable height. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography revealed collapsed Th2 and Th3 vertebrae. A tuberculous (TB) spondylitis was suspected, and anti-TB medication was started however with no clinical improvement. She was referred to our center and operated. A 3 level discectomy and 2 level corpectomy were performed with iliac bone grafting and anterior plating via an anterior cervical approach. The patient developed an esophagocutaneous fistula that was repaired and cured. The biopsy specimen showed a hydatid cyst of the vertebra as the cause of the lesion. After the result, she was started on oral albendazole. At follow-up nearly 4 months after surgery, the patient had regained significant power in her lower limbs with a muscular strength of 5/5 in both legs, thus making it possible to walk without support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Neurosurgery Unit, Collage of Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Neurosurgery Unit, Collage of Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Brook
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mesfin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Neurosurgery Unit, Collage of Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Abenezer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tirsit
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Neurosurgery Unit, Collage of Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Clinical Medicine (K1), University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wester
keywords: Cystic echinococcosis; hydatid disease; tuberculous spondylitis