POS1280 SPINAL LOCATION OF TUBERCULOSIS: WHAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST YEARS?
Background:Tuberculosis (TB) is no longer a disease limited to developing nations and is still a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can affect the different parts of the spine.Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the preferred spinal location of TB.Methods:We conduct a retrospective and descriptive study in a single rheumatology department. Data were collected from observations of patients hospitalized in the past 20 years (2000-2020) who have been diagnosed with tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS).Results:Fifty-two patients were included (37F/15M). Their mean age was 55.21 years ± 17.79 [19-91]. TS was more frequently unifocal (75%) than multifocal (25%). Lumbar spine involvement was the most common (57.7%) and more frequent in women (63.3%) but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.2). Other localizations were described such as: dorso-lumbar (21.2%), dorsal (15.4%), lumbosacral (3.8%) and cervical (1.9%). Lumbar pain was present in 34 patients (65.4%) and 29 patients (55.8%) suffered from segmental lumbar stiffness. Imaging was contributive by showing the vertebral location using standard X-rays, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Disc pinch, erosion of vertebral plateaus and vertebral collapse were the major signs (82.7%, 65.4% and 67.3%, respectively).Conclusion:TS is a rare but serious clinical condition which may lead to severe deformity and early or late neurological complications. Spinal involvement is often unifocal and mostly diagnosed with lumbar pain or stiffness. Multifocal forms, touching several parts of the spine, however remain rare. Our findings remain consistent with those of the literature.Disclosure of Interests:None declared