Central JSM Neurosurgery and Spine

Research Article *Corresponding author

Ahmad Faried, Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty

Spondylitis Tuberculosis in of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran–Dr. Hasan Sadikin

Hospital, Jl. Pasteur No. 38, Bandung 40161, West Java,

Neurosurgery Department Submitted: 11 April 2015

Accepted: 13 July 2015

Bandung Indonesia Published: 14 July 2015

Copyright
© 2015 Faried et al.
Ahmad Faried1*, Imam Hidayat2, Farid Yudoyono1, Rully Hanafi
OPEN ACCESS
Dahlan1 and Muhammad Zafrullah Arifin1
1
Department of Neurosurgery, Universitas Padjadjaran–Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Keywords
Indonesia • Spondylitis tuberculosis
2
Department of Neurosurgery, Universitas Syiah Kuala-Dr. Zainal Abidin Hospital, • Weakness of lower extremity
Indonesia • Neurosurgery

Abstract
Spondylitis TB is an infection of Mycobacterium TB involving the spine. The course
of spondylitis TB is relatively indolent (without pain), thus early diagnosis is challenging.
This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical presentation and the goal of surgery
in twelve patients who had been operated for spondylitis tuberculosis (TB) in the
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran–Dr. Hasan
Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia between May 2012–2013 were reviewed
retrospectively. This study analized the medical records of patients operated in our
center. A clinical examination, spinal X-Ray, computed tomography scans were obtained
before and after the operation is examined. Final diagnosis was based on histological
characteristics and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result of the Mycobacterium TB
bacteria. The chief complaint of spondylitis TB patients admitted or consulted to our
center is lower limb weakness. There were 12 cases of spondylitis TB (5 women and 7
men with a ratio of 1: 1.4). The average age was 34.3 (the youngest patient was 17
years old and the oldest was 56 years) with a standard deviation ± 9.9. The infected
spines are: one patient in the cervical, eight patients in thoracal and three patients in
lumbar. The chief complaint of spondylitis TB patients admitted or consulted is lower
limb weakness (83.3%). Gibbus is observed in 83.3% of patients. Anterior cervical
discectomy and fusion was performed in 1 case and posterior was used in 11 cases.
A comprehensive history taking, along with correct sampling using various imaging
modalities and PCR, will certainly lead to the diagnosis of spondylitis TB. It must be
noted that neurological deficit due to spinal tuberculosis is reversible in majority of
cases, especially if decompression is achieved promptly.

INTRODUCTION [6]. The management of spondylitis TB in general includes anti-

Spinal tuberculosis infection, or commonly referred as
spondylitis tuberculosis (TB) or vertebral osteomyelitis
tuberculosis or Pott’s disease [1], caused by the Mycobacterium
tuberculosis bacteria that attacks the corpus vertebrae, potentially
causing serious morbidity, including neurological deficits and
permanent spine deformity. The most common deformity is
kyphotic deformity, known as the gibbus. The diagnosis is usually
established at advanced stage, where severe spinal deformity
and neurological deficits such as paraplegia are evident [2,3].
Indonesia is ranked after India and China as country with most
population infected by TB [4]. Approximately 20% of pulmonary
TB infection will spread outside the lung (extrapulmonary TB)
[5]. Eleven percent of extrapulmonary TB is osteoarticular TB,
and approximately half of the patients have spinal TB infection
TB drugs, immobilization with or without surgical intervention.
This study was conducted in order to evaluate the clinical
presentation and the goal of surgery in 12 cases of patients
with spondylitis TB treated in the Department of Neurosurgery,
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran (FK UNPAD)–Dr.
Hasan Sadikin, Hospital (RSHS), Bandung from 2012-2013.
METHODS
This research was a retrospective cohort study examining
the medical records of spondylitis TB patients operated in the
Department of Neurosurgery, FK UNPAD–RSHS in May 2012–
May 2013. A clinical examination, spinal X-Ray, and computed
tomography (CT) scans were obtained before and after the
operation is performed (Figure 1). Final diagnosis was achieved
based on histological characteristics and outcome of polymerase

Cite this article: Faried A, Hidayat I, Yudoyono F, Dahlan RH, Arifin MZ (2015) Spondylitis Tuberculosis in Neurosurgery Department Bandung Indonesia.
JSM Neurosurg Spine 3(3): 1059.
 Faried et al. (2015)
Email:

Central

The infected spine are: one patient in the cervical, eight patients
in thoracal and three patients in lumbar. The chief complaint
of spondylitis TB patients admitted or consulted is lower limb
weakness (83.3%). Gibbus is observed in 83.3% of patients.
ACDF was performed in 1 case and posterior was used in 11
cases (Table 1). Diagnosis is based on histological characteristic
(hematoxylin and eosin staining) and laboratory tests using PCR;
the DNA samples were amplified using primers IS6110 with
product result 123 base pairs (bp). Forward and reverse primer
IS6110 consists of:
IS6110 forward: (5’ – CCT GCG AGC GTA GGC GTC GG– 3’)

Figure 1 Clinical picture that showing gibbus. Posterior deformity of

the spine is shown in response to vertebral kypothic angulation.

chain reaction (PCR) of the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria.

SURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Indications for surgery in acute spondylitis TB [7,8].
1. Progressive neurologic deficit.
2. Progressive increase of spinal deformity (more than
±40⁰ of segmental kyphosis, anteroposterior or lateral
translation).
3. Conservative treatments futile including point 1 and 2
above.
4. Severe pain due to abscess or spinal instability.
5. Uncertain diagnosis: this could be an inability to obtain
microbiological diagnosis from microscopy, culture or
even via detection of mycobacterium DNA using PCR.
Patients were operated in prone position under general
anesthesia. Septic and aseptic and draping was performed, the Figure 2 T1-weighted and T2-weighted sagittal MRI images of
operation site marking was then infiltrated with 10 ml of 1% thoracic spine showing destruction due to spinal TB of thoracal 7-8
xylocaine with adrenaline to minimize bleeding. A posterior (T7-T8) with some preservation of the disc (A and B). T2-weighted
axial and coronal MRI of same patient showing paravertebral abcess
midline approach was commonly used. The dissection was
(C and D).
carried out in the subperiosteal plane to allow decent bony part
identification. In the patient with cold abscess (Figure 2), the
posterolateral extra pleural (costotransversectomy) approach
was used to decompress the cord and remove necrotic materials
within the body and disc using curettes, and paraspinal abscess
was drained. The spine was stabilized using transpedicular
screw and rod system (Figure 3), the wound was closed layer by
layer after securing haemostasis without a drain. Surrounding
muscles were injected with 20 mg of bupivacaine to reduce post-
operative pain and muscle spasm. Anterior surgery (anterior
cervical discectomy and fusion; ACDF) was performed in one
case (Table 1).

RESULTS
There were 12 cases of spondylitis TB in this study (five
women and seven men with a ratio of 1: 1.4). The average age of
the patients was 34.3 (the youngest patient was 17 years old and Figure 3 Intra-operative photograph of bilateral partial laminectomy
the oldest was 56 years) with a standard deviation (SD) ± 9.9. (A). Abcess lesion following debridement (B).

JSM Neurosurg Spine 3(3): 1059 (2015)

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Figure 4 The final histopathological finding revealed TB infection
that shown as the accumulation of the epitheloid granulomas, datia
langhans cells, and caseous necrosis (magnifition 50x).
Figure 5 Polychain reaction (PCR) results. The IS6110 primers
amplify a fragment of MTB with a length of 123 base pair (bp).
IS6110 reverse : (5’ – CTC GTC CAG CGC CGC TTC GG – 3’)
PCR is highly accurate with a sensitivity of 80-98%, a
specificity of 98% [9] and rapid scan times (> 24 hours).
DISCUSSION
World Health Organization (WHO) has set TB as world
emergency issues. WHO estimates that there are approximately
eight million new cases annually and two million deaths each
year. If the problem is not managed, WHO predicts that there
will be approximately 200 million people infected by TB and 35
million deaths may be encountered in 2000 to 2020 [4].
Recently, Murdaca and colleagues emerged a very serious
issue that tell us how the administration of pro-infammatory
cytokine inhibitor, such as tumor necriting factor (TNF)-alpha
inhibitor, for chronic immune-mediated diseases appears to
be responsible (adverse event) for re-activation of latent-
JSM Neurosurg Spine 3(3): 1059 (2015)
Faried et al. (2015)
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tuberculosis (LTB) and the overall risk of opportunistic infections
[10]. Murdaca and colleagues suggested that the clinician must
have patient’s medical history, Mantoux test and chest x-ray
should always be done before TNFalpha inhibitor consider to
be given to the patient with chronic immune-mediated diseases
[10]. In Indonesia, TNFalpha inhibitor for chronic immune-
mediated diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing
spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and other inflammatory arthritis)
is not our national protocol and will not covered by our national
insurance; therefore no LTB associated with TNFalpha inhibitor
therapy reported in our country. The message that they want to
underline is that, the clinician should be aware of TB in subjects
undergoing TNFalpha inhibitor therapy, especially in countries
with a high prevalence of TB, such us in Indonesia.
Clinical manifestations of spondylitis TB are relatively
indolent (without the pain) [9]. The patients usually complaint
unspecific local pain in the infected area of the vertebra. Infection
begins in the subchondral epiphyseal vertebral area then extends
to the bone ossification center that may devitalized the bone due
to TB bacilli exotoxin that may cause loss of extracellular matrix
also spread locally to the subligament longitudinal area. TB germ
induce inflammatory reaction and the formation of granulation
tissue. This granulation will start damaging and erodes the
cartilage and even bone tissue resulting in demineralization and
then spread to the disc that has a poor blood supply. This process
may lead to deformity known kyphotic gibbus (83.3% patients
are presented with gibbus in this study).
Spondylitis TB is most commonly located in thoracal areas,
as many as 71% [11]; 66.7% in this study. The main artery that
affects the spinal cord in thoracal segments is most frequently
located in the left vertebrae thorakal 8 to lumbar 3. Thrombosis
of this artery may cause paraplegia. Another factor to be taken
into account is the relatively large diameter of the spinal canal
compared with vertebral canal. Lumbar vertebrae intumesensia
begin to widen as high as ± vertebrae thoracal 10, where vertebral
canal in the area is relatively small. As vertebral canal in the first
lumbar vertebra is large, it provides more space to move when
there is compression on the anterior part. This may explain why
paraplegia is common in vertebral thoracal lesions.
Gulhane Askeri Tip Academics (GATA) classification
determines the best therapy for the patient. This classification
system is based on clinical and radiological criteria, including:
abscess formation, disc degeneration, vertebral collapse,
kyphosis, sagittal angulation, vertebral instability and
neurological symptoms; spondylitis TB is divided into three types
(GATA I, II, and III) [12]. Surgical intervention is performed on
patients with GATA IB-III. Meanwhile, the only contraindication
of surgery is heart and lung failure.
The management of spondylitis TB aims to: (i) eradicate TB
germs using anti-TB drugs, (ii) Improve the patient’s general
condition, (iii) prevent or correct deformity, using decompression
and stabilization, (iv) Prevent or treat complications such
as neurological deficit such as paraplegi [13]. Treatment of
spondylitis TB is generally divided into two parts that can be
initiated concurrently, medical and surgical. Medical treatment
is fundamental, whereas surgery and complementary medical
therapy varies among patients [14]. Although medical treatment
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is the core therapy in the management of spondylitis TB patients,
surgery play an important role in spondylitis TB cases with cold
abscess, tuberculosis lesions, paraplegia, kyphosis progressive or
bone or disc herniation in the neural canal. In this study, surgical
therapy was performed in 83.3% of patients with cold abscess.
There are several surgical approaches; including (a) Anterior
approach where abscess can be evacuated, necrotic substances
can be disposed, anterior decompression of the spinal cord
can be achieved. Tissue for histopathological examination and
culture may be obtained easily and kyphosis can be corrected or
stabilized with autogenous bone graft, (b) Posterior approach;
indicated in cases where posterior elements are involved and
posterior stabilization is needed before anterior decompression
and arthrodesis, as well as in patients with stable or minimal
spinal deformity with intramedullary tuberculoma or epidural
abscess present. In this study, surgery was conducted, using
posterior approach, due to progressive neurologic deficits and
the progressive increase of spinal deformity (91.7%).
CONCLUSION
A comprehensive history taking, along with correct sampling
using various imaging modalities and PCR, will certainly lead to
the diagnosis of spondylitis TB. It must be noted that neurological
deficit due to spinal tuberculosis is reversible in majority of cases,
especially if decompression is achieved promptly. Appropriate
fusion and stabilization may prevent pain and late deformity.
CONSENT
Informed consent was obtained from each patient on May
2012–2013 for publication of this study and any accompaning
images
AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS
AF, IH, FY, RHD and MZA had examined, treated, observed,
and followed up the subject of this research. AF, FY and
RHD performed all the operation on the patient. All authors
participated in writing the manuscript. All authors has read and
approved of the final manuscript.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank to Agung B. Sutiono from
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas
Padjadjaran-Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, for fruitful of
discussions.
Cite this article
Faried A, Hidayat I, Yudoyono F, Dahlan RH, Arifin MZ (2015) Spondylitis Tuberculosis in Neurosurgery Department Bandung Indonesia. JSM Neurosurg Spine
3(3): 1059.
JSM Neurosurg Spine 3(3): 1059 (2015)
Faried et al. (2015)
Email:
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