European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis of spine is one of the commonest musculoskeletal TB. It not only causes back pain but also causes functional disability.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of Radiology and Imaging, JNIMS, Imphal East in collaboration with the Departments of Orthopedics and Microbiology, JNIMS from March 2017 to June 2021. Fifty patients appeared as tuberculosis spondylitis on clinical and X-ray findings were included in the study. MRI (3 Tesla, Phillips), microbiological tests and preoperative biopsy were done from each patient and 45 of them were confirmed as the patients of spine TB by these procedures. Maximum of the patients were from the age group 31-40 years with a mean age of 36.25±6.33 years. Males were predominant. Results: Multiple and continuous vertebral involvement was seen more common. Conclusions:  MRI should be considered to be the imaging modality of choice for patients with suspected TB spondylitis, because of its high specificity, sensitivity and accuracy as it provides necessary information to the surgeon for proper management by providing vertebral intra-osseous abscess, vertebral disc collapse, skip lesions, dural and intradural diseases and involvement of posterior elements more precisely.