[Huge dorsolumbar cold abscess associated with Pott's disease]

Pott's disease, or tuberculosis of the spine, is the most common osteoarticular tuberculosis. Among them, dorsolumbar impairment is predominant. The authors report the case of a patient with a huge cold lumbar abscess associated with Pott's disease. The patient is a 32-year-old man presenting dorsolumbar tumefaction associated with an alteration in his general condition and fever for three months. Treatment by "traditional healers" did not provide any improvement. He consulted for mild lumbar pain triggered by fatigue appearing one week before and after the failure of the traditional practitioner. The clinical examination found a temperature of 38.5°C, cachexia, mild lumber kyphosis and impressive, soft, painless and non inflammatory dorsolumbar bruised tumefaction, 40 cm high, 15 cm wide and 7 cm deep. He did not present any neurological signs. The dorsolumbar X-ray of the spine revealed a lesion associated with Pott's disease in the first and second lumbar vertebrae with pinching of the disc, punched-out lesions and osteocondensation. The ultrasound examination of the soft tissue revealed the presence of a laterovertebral collection of fluid diffusing in the subcutaneous region. The psoas major and the paravertebral muscles were not affected. A scan or MRI of the spine was not carried out. Examination of the tissue sample and drainage of the abscess confirmed the tubercular origin. Treatment with tuberculostatic drugs for 12 months associated with immobilisation resulted in a cure with sequelae of mild kyphoscoliosis vertebral statics.