Abstract
Background: Pott´s disease (PD) is an uncommon extra-pulmonary form of tuberculosis. Dissimilar data about location, diagnosis and treatment from various hospitals and different countries are reported. Tuberculous long bone osteomyelitis and osteoarthritis is also unknown. Patients and methods: We present our experience with PD at our institution between January 1989 and January 2003, and retrospectively review the clinical, pathological and microbiological data. We found the medical records of 17 patients diagnosed as having PD and 11 patients with LBT at our hospital. The following information was obtained: age, sex, symptoms and signs at presentation, PPD tuberculin skin test, imaging techniques, mycobacterium cultures and stains, pathologic study, treatment and clinical outcome. Results: The number of microbiological diagnosed tuberculosis during the study period was of 1 748 (4 cases per 1 000 admissions). From them, 1 451 cases (83%) were pulmonary and 297 cases (17%) extra-pulmonary. We found 17 patients diagnosed as having PD. In 8 cases, cultures were positive (2.7% extra-pulmonary). The mean age of the patients was 58 years. There was a diagnostic delay between 2 and 720 days. Pain and dorsal location were more frequent (10/17). In 6 cases, tuberculosis was diagnosed at other sites. Tuberculin skin test was positive in 9 cases (53%). The diagnosis was confirmed by positive cultures from biopsies in 8 from 11 cases performed and the histology was compatible in 8 from11 cases performed. Diskitis was presented in 10 cases, soft tissue abscess in 10 cases (psoas abscess in 2); epidural compression in 11 cases and surgery was necessary in 11 cases (diagnostic in 3). Conclusions: Pott´s disease is a rare entity even among HIV-patients in whom extrapulmonar disease has increased. Dorsal location, discitis and advanced forms of the disease that deserve surgical treatment are frequent.

Key words
Pott's disease, spondylodiscitis, bone and joint tuberculosis, diagnosis

Bibliografía del artículo

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