Challenges in the Diagnosis and Management of Spinal Tuberculosis: Case Series

Though uncommon in developed countries, spinal tuberculosis must still be considered in patients with a suspicious clinical history, to avoid delays in treatment. This case series highlights the special considerations that need to be taken into account while tackling the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with this disease. We present two interesting cases of spinal tuberculosis. The first case was a 26-year-old female who presented with chronic back pain and an initial misdiagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. The second case was a 26-year-old male with new lower extremity weakness, numbness, and urinary retention. Both cases had clear indications for surgery, however, the first case was treated with medical management upon patient request. The patient was managed non-surgically and improved clinically though she may need surgery in the future. The second case was treated with emergency surgery and the patient regained full neurologic function at follow-up. These cases demonstrate the importance of considering spinal tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of high-risk patients as well as individualizing treatment strategies for each patient.