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- Title
Tubercular spondylodiscitis in elderly is a more severe disease: a report of 66 consecutive patients.
- Authors
Shetty, Ajoy; Viswanathan, Vibhu; Kanna, Rishi; Shanmuganathan, Rajasekaran; Shetty, Ajoy Prasad; Viswanathan, Vibhu Krishnan; Kanna, Rishi Mukesh
- Abstract
<bold>Purpose: </bold>(1) To analyze peculiarities of presentation and prognosis of tubercular spondylodiscitis (TBS) in elderly. (2) To assess if associated co-morbidities and risks lead to poorer outcome (3) To observe if different management strategy needs to be implemented in them.<bold>Methods: </bold>Retrospective analysis of 66 consecutive elderly TBS patients (>60 years) treated conservatively or surgically between January 2010 and July 2013 was performed. Details regarding clinical presentation (general health, ambulatory status, co-morbidities), neurological status, medical or surgical complications and outcome measurements [visual analog score, clinico-radiological evidence of healing and lumbar lordosis in lumbar (L) or lumbo-sacral (LS) or focal kyphosis in thoracic (T) or thoraco-lumbar (TL) disease] were analysed.<bold>Results: </bold>Of 66 patients (mean age 67.9 years), 85% had at least one medical co-morbidity and only 45% were community ambulators. Mean delay in presentation was 132 days and lumbar disease was commonest. 35% had neuro-deficit. Most patients had stage 2 (38%) or 3 (42.4%) disease. 19 patients were conservatively managed, while others underwent surgery. Significant complications occurred in 23 patients, most common being liver dysfunction (9 patients). Five patients (8%) expired during treatment: three succumbed to multi-focal tubercular disease, while two expired secondary to medical illnesses. Mean loss of lordosis in conservatively treated (CG) L/LS disease was 8°, while lordosis was restored by 11.6° in operative group (OG). In T/TL disease, sagittal alignment correction by 12.6° was observed in OG as against 5.7° kyphotic collapse in CG patients. 92% patients were cured with no recurrences. The final VAS scores in operative and conservative groups were not significantly different (OG 1.4 ± 0.6, CG 1.9 ± 0.7).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>TBS in elderly differed from that in younger by having a higher co-morbidities, later presentation, higher neuro-deficit, greater mortality and increased complications. Nevertheless, in those who survived, clinico-radiological outcomes of both conservative and surgical treatments were good.
- Subjects
SPONDYLODISCITIS; SPINE diseases diagnosis; SPINE diseases; COMORBIDITY; VISUAL analog scale; MEDICAL radiology; LORDOSIS; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
European Spine Journal, 2017, Vol 26, Issue 12, p3178
- ISSN
0940-6719
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1007/s00586-017-5157-9