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Pott

Pott's disease, also known as tuberculosis of the spine, results from the spread of tuberculosis bacteria from other sites to the spine. It most commonly affects the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae. As the infection spreads between vertebrae, it can cause the collapse of intervertebral discs and lead to vertebral damage and kyphosis. Symptoms include back pain, fever, weight loss, and fatigue. Diagnosis involves blood tests, skin tests, and imaging of the spine. Treatment focuses on controlling the infection with antibiotics and sometimes surgery to drain abscesses or stabilize the spine. Prevention relies on reducing the spread of tuberculosis through testing and treatment of positive cases.

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34 views1 page

Pott

Pott's disease, also known as tuberculosis of the spine, results from the spread of tuberculosis bacteria from other sites to the spine. It most commonly affects the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae. As the infection spreads between vertebrae, it can cause the collapse of intervertebral discs and lead to vertebral damage and kyphosis. Symptoms include back pain, fever, weight loss, and fatigue. Diagnosis involves blood tests, skin tests, and imaging of the spine. Treatment focuses on controlling the infection with antibiotics and sometimes surgery to drain abscesses or stabilize the spine. Prevention relies on reducing the spread of tuberculosis through testing and treatment of positive cases.

Uploaded by

red29
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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POTT”S DISEASE

INTRODUCTION
Tuberculosis (TB) of the spine also known as Potts disease, Pott’s Caries, David's disease, Tuberculosis spondylitis
and Pott's curvature, is the most common site of bone infection in TB. The lower thoracic and upper lumbar
vertebrae are the areas of the spine most often affected. The original name was formed after Percivall Pott, a London
surgeon, who first studied the disease. When he died, Patrick David was the one who continued his work. Pott’s
disease results from haematogenous spread of tuberculosis (mycobacterium tuberculosis) from other sites. The
infection then spreads from two adjacent vertebrae into the adjoining disc space. If only one vertebra is affected, the
disc is normal,but if two are involved the intervertebral disc, which is avascular, cannot receive nutrients and
collapses. The disc tissue dies and is broken down bycaseation, leading to vertebral narrowing and eventually to
vertebral collapse and spinal damage. A dry soft tissue mass often forms and superinfection is rare. The disease
progresses slowly. Signs and symptoms include: back pain, fever, night sweats, anorexia, weight loss, and easy
fatigability. Diagnosis is based on: blood tests - elevated ESR , skin tests, radiographs of the spine , bone scan ,CT
of the spine , and bone biopsy. Gibbus formation is the pathognomonic sign of this disease. A person with Pott's
disease often develops kyphosis, which results in a hunchback. This is often referred to as Pott’s curvature. In some
cases, a person with Pott's disease may also develop paralysis, referred to as Pott’s paraplegia, when the spinal
nerves become affected by the curvature. A person who has been diagnosed with Pott's disease may be treated
through a variety of options. He or she may utilize analgesics or antituberculosis drugs to get the infection under
control. It may also be necessary to immobilize the area of the spine affected by the disease, or the person may need
to undergo surgery in order to drain any abscesses that may have formed or to stabilize the spine. Since Pott's
disease is caused by a bacterial infection, prevention is possible through proper control. The best method for
preventing the disease is reduce or eliminate the spread of tuberculosis. In addition, testing for tuberculosis is
an important preventative measure, as those who are positive for purified protein derivative (PPD) can take
medication to prevent tuberculosis from forming. A tuberculin skin test is the most common method used to screen
for tuberculosis, though blood tests, bone scans, bone biopsies, and radiographs may also be used to confirm the
disease

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