TB Research

Tuberculous Spondylodiscitis: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review.

Ivo I Kehayov, Atanas N Davarski, Georgi S Slavov, Borislav D Kitov

Cureus · 2025-06

Abstract

Tuberculosis ranks as one of the most deadly infectious diseases globally. While it primarily attacks the lungs, it can also develop in other parts of the body. It can involve the vertebral column, a condition known as Pott's disease. How often it occurs, what symptoms appear, and how severe it becomes all depend on which spinal segments are involved and how much bone has been damaged. Because the signs of Pott's disease are varied and often vague, even modern healthcare systems can struggle to diagnose it promptly. This delay is the main reason why many patients go on to suffer neurological impairments, spinal instability, and generally poor outcomes, often without ever regaining full neurological function. In this report, we describe two cases of tuberculous spondylodiscitis, highlighting their clinical presentations and imaging results, and we review the literature to outline the most effective strategies for diagnosis and treatment.