Tuberculous Spondylitis (Pott Disease)

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of infectious disease mortality worldwide. In 2024, approximately 10.7 million people developed TB disease. Over a quarter of the world’s population has TB infection (previously designated as latent TB).[WHO. Global Tuberculosis Report 2025. 12 November 2025] TB spondylitis is an extrapulmonary form of the disease, known eponymously as Pott’s disease in recognition of the British physician, Dr. Percivall Pott, who first described the condition in 1779. When diagnosed early, TB spondylitis can be treated conservatively in an effort to avoid complications. However, late diagnosis often requires both medical and surgical interventions to manage progressive bone destruction, spine instability, kyphosis, and spinal cord damage. Please see StatPearls' companion resource, "Tuberculosis Overview," for further information.