Incidence of lumbosacral tuberculosis: A pilot study in a tertiary center

Introduction: Spinal tuberculosis is a destructive form of tuberculosis. It accounts for approximately half of all musculoskeletal tuberculosis, affecting mostly the young population in their productive years of life. Characteristically, there is destruction of intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral bodies radiologically, leading to deformities and neurological symptoms. Common clinical manifestations include constitutional symptoms, back pain, spinal tenderness and neurological symptoms. Patients with tuberculosis affecting the lumbar and sacral region may be confused with benign conditions such as prolapsed intervertebral disc until late due to absent neurological symptoms. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the most sensitive investigation for diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. Material and Methods: From July 2014 to September 2014, all the patients presenting to the orthopaedic outpatient department with nontraumatic back pain were evaluated. Results: Out of 16 patients diagnosed as spinal tuberculosis 11 had lumbar and Lumbosacral, 3 had dorsal, 2 had dorsolumbar region involvement. Conclusion: MRI is most sensitive investigation to diagnose undefined back pain. These back pain are due to spinal tuberculosis. Lumbosacral tuberculosis is more common than dorsolumbar region.