Spine-Pain

CONCLUSIONS. Tuberculous sacroiliitis with anterior synovial cyst is a rare cause of chronic sciatica. Lateral compression of the pelvis, Gaenslen’s test, and Patrick’s test should be included in evaluation of patients with sciatica. Computed tomography scan is a superb diagnostic method for sacroiliitis. Arthrotomy and drainage effectively relieve the sciatica. Three combined antituberculosis drug therapy should be given after surgery.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7638664&dopt=AbstractPlus

Where TB’s Danger Lies
By Bernadine Healy M.D.
Posted 6/10/07
Page 2 of 2

Dormant disease. There’s another way the United States is a sieve for TB: We import “latent” infection, a dormant form of the disease (which shows up with a simple skin test) in which the immune system keeps the microbe in check. Our immigration health screens don’t target this or require treatment if it’s discovered as they do for active TB, since it’s not contagious. But 10 percent of latent disease becomes active and contagious, something that can be prevented by drug therapy. Randall Reves, medical director of the Denver Metro Tuberculosis Control Program, stresses that targeted testing of high-risk populations for latent TB, with mandatory treatment, is critical to wiping out the disease. The CDC agrees. So does the Institute of Medicine in its report “Ending Neglect.” Ending neglect is a tall task calling for this and more: Better and faster diagnostic tests and treatment. Drugs to overcome resistance. An effective TB vaccine. Intense global efforts to stamp out TB in hot spots. And a major investment in America’s own public-health system.

If a burst of public anger at one man with TB who boarded a plane against medical advice brings focus to these issues, that’s a good thing. We may come to realize, as Reves suggests, that the public-health system’s inability to better control the transmission of high-risk TB failed Speaker a lot more than he failed anyone else.

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070610/18healy_2.htm

Symptoms of Skeletal Tuberculosis osteomyelitis (known as Pott’s disease)

Signs and symptoms of active pulmonary TB include: unintended weight loss, fatigue, slight fever, night sweats, chills, loss of appetite, pain with breathing or coughing

Signs and symptoms of Skeletal Tuberculosis include: back pain, fever, night sweating, anorexia, weight loss, Spinal mass, sometimes associated with numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness of the legs

Skeletal Tuberculosis: Tuberculous osteomyelitis involves mainly the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae (known as Pott’s disease) followed by knee and hip. There is extensive necrosis and bony destruction with compressed fractures (with kyphosis) and extension to soft tissues, including psoas “cold” abscess.

Symptoms of Tuberculosis may not show up until many years later. Sometimes active TB can develop years after initial infection. One in ten people who have a tuberculosis infection goes on to develop active tuberculosis. Tuberculosis also can target almost any part of your body, including your lungs, joints, bones, urinary tract, central nervous system, muscles, bone marrow and lymphatic system. Tuberculosis of the spine may result in back pain.

Tuberculosis can target almost any part of your body, including your lungs, joints, bones, urinary tract, liver, central nervous system, muscles, bone marrow and lymphatic system.

Tuberculosis that occurs outside the lungs is termed extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and occurs in about 15 percent of all cases.

Apparently a culture and biopsy are important in making the diagnosis in extrapulmonary disease.