Pott disease: current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches

Spinal tuberculosis, or Pott's disease, has been known since ancient times; it was a common orthopaedic illness until 1950, but the progress of specific therapies confined it to third word countries; its resurgency in recent years in developed countries is due to drug resistance, immigration from endemic areas, and an increase in immunodeficient patients. Spinal disease is found in about 1% of all tuberculosis cases. Modern treatment consists of a diagnostic phase, based on clinical findings and imaging exams, and of a medical and surgical therapy. Our patients have been treated with a three antibiotic drugs scheme, and underwent early surgical treatment, in order to assure the curettage of the lesion and obtain spine stabilization, so as to avoid spinal deformity.