Multilevel vertebral body tuberculosis: a case report

Abstract

We report a rare case of multifocal vertebral body tuberculosis with an isolated affection of vertebral bodies and uncommon findings in radiographies that were more suggestive of vascular or tumor lesion. This case is reported to illustrate the complexity of diagnostic procedures necessary to reveal multilevel vertebral body tuberculosis and the place of modern imaging, especially computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, to differentiate vertebral tuberculosis from other differential diagnosis.

Intervertebral focal surgery for the treatment of non-contiguous multifocal spinal tuberculosis

“…Non-contiguous multifocal spinal tuberculosis has two or more foci separated by at least one normal intervertebral disc [1,2]. This is rare in clinical practice and difficult to treat.…”

“…Ibn et al adopted segment fixation comprising one or multiple normal spinal motion segments above and below the lesion(s). While this type of fixation provides strong support, it sacrifices too much spinal motor function [2,5,6]. Recently, we performed many clinical and basic studies using intervertebral focal surgery to treat mono-segmental spinal tuberculosis and have obtained primary success [7,8].…”