[Causes of disabling forms of tuberculous spondylitis]

To define the causes of disabling forms of tuberculous spondylitis, 218 patients with advanced complicated forms of tuberculosis of the vertebral column were examined. Their specific process was complicated by abscesses, fistulas, deformity, and instability of the affected portion of the vertebral column, and neurological disorders. Analysis of clinical findings has indicated that the main causes of complications are late diagnosis of the disease and general practitioners' poor special knowledge. Diagnostic errors may be also caused by a larger number of asymptomatic and atypical forms of tuberculous spondylitis. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis should be improved in order to prevent complications due to spinal tuberculous and as a result its disabling forms.