In this article, we’ll explore what is Potts disease, what it looks like, and how to treat it. This disease affects the nervous system and is curable if diagnosed early. Fortunately, there are several options for treatment. The first step in curing this condition is to treat the pain.
What is Potts disease caused by?
Potts disease, or tuberculous spondylitis, is an infectious disease of the spinal column that is caused by an infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). The disease is characterized by softening and collapse of the vertebrae and may cause spinal deformities and neurological symptoms. The disease is named after an English surgeon, Percivall Pott.
Patients with this condition often exhibit spinal deformity, including thoracic kyphosis, and a restricted range of spinal motion. Cervical spine involvement occurs in approximately 10% of cases and can lead to severe neurological complications. The condition can progress rapidly and lead to quadriplegia, hemiparesis, or even paralysis.
MRI is the most reliable method for the diagnosis of spinal TB, neural compression, and disk-space infections. MRI is also useful for detecting the presence of tuberculosis in the spinal cord and the soft tissue space. It can also demonstrate the spread of the disease under the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments. CT-guided needle biopsy is another option for draining large paraspinal abscesses. PCR can also help identify genetic mutations associated with drug resistance.
What are the symptoms of Pott’s disease?
A patient suffering from Pott’s disease experiences multiple symptoms. The most prominent of these are deformity in the thoracic and upper cervical spines. Up to 10% of patients develop cervical spine tuberculosis, which can have severe neurological consequences. In patients with upper cervical involvement, the disease can progress rapidly and result in quadriplegia or hemiparesis. Other symptoms of Pott’s disease include dysphagia and stridor.
Pott’s disease usually starts with back pain and muscle spasms. Occasionally, patients will develop stiffness or paraplegia. Treatment for Pott’s disease depends on the severity and duration of symptoms. Generally, patients will receive a six-month course of medication. The treatment includes a combination of drugs that inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. First-line medications include Rifampin, Isoniazid, and Pyrazinamide. In severe cases, drugs such as Ethambutol or Streptomycin may be given. If these drugs fail to cure the disease, patients may also require surgical management.
While spinal TB is not a common cause of back pain, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis if a patient experiences persistent back pain. In the event that spinal TB is the underlying cause of back pain, a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) can help detect the infection. Moreover, a biopsy of a lesion from the spine can help establish the diagnosis.
Is Potts disease curable?
Potts disease is curable, and there are currently several treatment options available. Treatment is typically ongoing for six months to one year, and the medications prescribed target the Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. First line therapy includes drugs like Rifampin and Isoniazid. Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol are also often used. After the first few months of treatment, the patient may be placed on a second line of drugs. If the disease does not respond to first line drugs, surgical management may be necessary.
If left untreated, Potts disease can cause serious complications, including paralysis, spinal arthritis, and deformity. The infection starts in the lungs, but can spread to other parts of the body. Infected joints can collapse, damaging the spinal cord and other tissues. In some severe cases, the infection can even lead to spinal tuberculosis, which is more common in people who have HIV.
Treatment for Potts disease can be expensive, and many developing countries still have difficulty affording it. Even when free medication is available, the cost can be as much as 80% of a person’s per capita income. Fortunately, many organizations donate medications and surgeries to patients in low-income countries. The Nuvasive Spine Foundation, for example, provides life-saving spine surgery to people in the poorest regions of the world.
How is Potts disease treated?
Potts disease is a condition in which the spine has been affected by an invasive tubercle. Its treatment involves immobilization. This treatment is associated with a mortality rate of approximately 20%. However, recent advances in medical technology have reduced this mortality rate. The basic lesion of Potts disease is the fusion of osteomyelitis and arthritis, which usually involves more than one vertebra.
Treatment of Potts disease involves medication and sometimes surgery. The onset of the disease is usually progressive, and the length of time of treatment can range from nine months to a year. Medication will treat the tuberculosis infection, but surgery may correct the warped spine and prevent neurological complications. In addition, physical therapy is often necessary after surgery.
Spinal TB is a rare disease in the United States. It usually affects the thoracic region of the vertebral column. Symptoms include back pain and vertebral collapse. Because symptoms of spinal TB are nonspecific, it can be misdiagnosed as a compression fracture.
How is Pott’s disease diagnosed?
Pott’s disease can be diagnosed using a variety of diagnostic tests. The most accurate method is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is more sensitive than other diagnostic tests. The images often show vertebral wedging, collapse, or abscess. They may also show marrow edema and spinal deformity. Treatment is aimed at controlling the progression of the disease. Patients typically receive first-line drugs like rifampicin and isoniazid. If the disease is complex, physicians may also prescribe drug chemotherapy.
MRI is a gold-standard test for disc-space infections and osteomyelitis, and it’s an excellent way to check for the spread of the disease to soft tissue. Biopsies can be performed using CT-guided needles or a percutaneous approach. A sample of the tissue is then obtained for pathological and microbiological study. In severe cases, open drainage may be necessary.
MRI is the best test for diagnosis of spinal osteomyelitis, neural compression, and disc-space infections. MRI is the gold-standard criterion for tuberculosis diagnosis and is best used to show the spread of tuberculosis to adjacent vertebrae and soft tissue spaces. CT-guided needle biopsy is also useful for draining large paraspinal abscesses. In addition, PCR is used to detect genetic mutations associated with drug resistance.
What increases risk of Potts disease?
Although it is not a common disease, Potts disease can have devastating consequences if it is not diagnosed early. All patients with spondylitis, pulmonary nodules, or an intraspinal abscess should be evaluated for Potts disease. If any of these symptoms are present, a CT-guided needle biopsy may be performed. The results of this procedure are used to make a definitive diagnosis.
A person who is at high risk for this disease should also be tested for tuberculosis, a type of infectious disease. This infection, caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, affects the bones of the spinal column. When left untreated, it can lead to spinal arthritis, spinal deformities, and paralysis.
HIV infection is another risk factor. People with HIV have an increased risk of getting Potts disease, which can lead to death. While it is rare in the developed world, the disease is becoming more common in developing countries, where migration is a significant problem.
How is Pott’s disease prevented?
Pott’s disease is a type of tuberculosis affecting the spine. The disease occurs when tuberculosis bacterium travels through the blood to the vertebrae in the back, known as the thoracic and lumbar spines. In some cases, it can lead to a spinal deformity or even a fatal condition. The disease is curable with the use of medication, but there are still some risk factors to be aware of.
The treatment for Pott’s disease varies from patient to patient and may require up to a year of therapy. The medications prescribed aim to suppress the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the spinal column. In the first two months, patients may receive antibiotics like Rifampin or Isoniazid. Sometimes, they may also receive an additional drug, such as Streptomycin.
The diagnosis of Pott’s disease is based on a combination of clinical findings and diagnostic tests. The most sensitive tests are MRI and biopsy. If Pott’s disease is suspected, treatment should include a course of anti-tuberculosis antibiotics and bracing. If the disease is more advanced, surgery may be necessary.
How do you get TB in the spine?
Tuberculosis is a disease of the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body, too, including the spine. People with this disease typically experience back pain, blood in the urine, and persistent cough. Other common symptoms of this disease include unexplained weight loss and drenching night sweats.
The first step to treating spinal TB is to get an MRI scan. A doctor can also perform a microbiological and pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis. Once confirmed, treatment will involve antibiotics to relieve pain, prevent deformity in the spine, and restore proper alignment of the spine. Fortunately, this disease is curable if detected and treated quickly. Patients must follow their prescribed medications for a full course of therapy.
The symptoms of spinal TB may be less severe than the symptoms of bone TB. Often, this disease is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Treatment for spinal TB can involve drugs and surgery.
