Difficulties in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis (clinical observation)

Abstract

Neurological disorders are widely recognized as the most frequent and dangerous complication of neglected forms of spinal tuberculosis, typically leading to disability. Since tuberculous spondylitis remains free from pathognomonic clinical symptoms, the disease should be suspected in case of ineffective treatment of a non-tuberculous disease with a particular form of spinal tuberculosis to be behind. The diagnostic algorithm, being implemented from the initial stage of tuberculous osteitis formation, involves timely anti-tuberculosis treatment and correct management of patients, thereby making the basis for preventing the neurological disorders and disability of patients. The presented clinical cases indicate the advantage of an integrated approach in the diagnosis of this pathology in terms of establishing the tuberculous etiology of spondylitis.