The treatment of spinal tuberculosis a retrospective study

Description: INT J TUBERC LUNG DIS 9(5):541–544 2005 S. Ramachandran,* I. J. Clifton,* T. A. Collyns,† J. P. Watson,* S. B. Pearson* *Department of Respiratory Medicine, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, †Department of Microbiology, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, United Kingdom
BACKGROUND: There are conflicting guidelines and variations in clinical practice in the management of bone tuberculosis (TB), including spinal TB. A case who re- ceived 6 months of treatment in line with current British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines, and subsequently re- lapsed, prompted a survey of treatment and outcomes of spinal and other bone TB.
METHODS: A retrospective study examining the clinical features, treatment duration and outcome of patients presenting with spinal and other bone TB to the Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust, be- tween 1998 and 2002.
RESULTS: Forty-two patients were identified. Notes from 34 patients with spinal TB and four patients with TB of other bones were reviewed. Of eight patients who received 6 months of therapy, five relapsed. Of 30 pa- tients who received treatment for 9 months or longer, none relapsed (P