Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)
08:46

A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)

Published on: March 7, 2017

Pott's disease in children

Mohammed Benzagmout1, Saïd Boujraf, Khalid Chakour

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Hassan II, Fez- Morocco, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Fez, Morocco.

Surgical Neurology International
|February 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Spinal tuberculosis, primarily affecting children, is a growing concern. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes, preventing severe complications like paraplegia.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Increasing incidence of tuberculosis, with skeletal tuberculosis comprising 10-20% of extrapulmonary cases.
  • Spinal tuberculosis predominantly affects children and young adults, leading to bone destruction, spinal deformity, and neurological complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the demographic data, clinical presentation, surgical interventions, and outcomes of 37 children treated for spinal tuberculosis over six years.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 37 pediatric patients (under 15 years) diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis.
  • Evaluation of demographic profiles, clinical symptoms, treatment regimens (chemotherapy and immobilization), and surgical indications.
  • Assessment of treatment outcomes and follow-up duration (1-4 years).

Main Results:

  • The average age of patients was 9.1 years, with a male/female ratio of 1.8.
  • 81% presented with inflammatory rachialgia; 16.2% had neurological symptoms. The lumbar spine was most commonly affected (23 cases).
  • All patients received chemotherapy and immobilization; seven underwent surgery due to psoas abscess or severe neurological deficits. All cases showed favorable outcomes, with no mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Spinal tuberculosis remains prevalent in developing nations, particularly in pediatric populations.
  • The disease can cause severe bone destruction, spinal deformity, and paraplegia, emphasizing the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment.
  • Early intervention is essential for achieving good outcomes and preventing devastating complications.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chemotherapychildneurosurgeryspinetuberculosis

Related Concept Videos

Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction01:30

Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is characterized by mucosal excavation in the esophagus, stomach, pylorus, or duodenum. It can manifest as acute or chronic based on the extent and duration of mucosal involvement.
An acute ulcer, marked by superficial erosion and minimal inflammation, swiftly resolves upon identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In contrast, a chronic ulcer persists, potentially eroding through the muscular wall and forming fibrous tissue.
Peptic ulcers can also be...
Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction01:25

Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) involves breaks in the gastrointestinal tract's mucosal lining, primarily in the stomach and duodenum, with less frequent occurrences in the lower esophagus or near the pylorus.Ulcers can be acute or chronic. Acute ulcers are short-lived with minimal inflammation and heal quickly after the irritant is removed. Chronic ulcers persist, may recur, and often cause scarring due to ongoing tissue damage. Superficial erosions affect only the mucosal layer and are called...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pyloric Obstruction01:11

Pyloric Obstruction

Pyloric obstruction, also referred to as gastric outlet obstruction, is a condition characterized by narrowing or blockage at the pylorus—the muscular valve regulating the flow of stomach contents into the duodenum. When this passage becomes impaired, the stomach cannot effectively empty its contents into the small intestine. This disruption leads to a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including early satiety, bloating, epigastric pain, postprandial nausea, persistent vomiting, and...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...