Clinical case study on tuberculosis in the spine

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis of the spine, also known as Pott's disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can cause back pain, vertebral deformity and, in severe cases, paralysis.
Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize tuberculosis in the spine, through the results obtained in a case study of a patient in Ecuador.
Methods: The epidemiological study, of descriptive level, was a clinical case that consisted of a 24-year-old Ecuadorian male patient, who, without associated comorbidities, and without apparent risk factors, was diagnosed with vertebral tuberculosis, through molecular studies performed on the collection presented in the dorsal spine region.
Results: Aspects including the clinical presentation of the case, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and medical treatment of the case study were addressed. In this way, an example of how to treat this disease is provided, being a result with both clinical and teaching value.
Conclusions: In the present study, the case of this 24-year-old male patient was reported. The authors conclude that tuberculosis of the spine is a serious disease that requires early diagnosis and appropriate treatment to prevent serious complications. Physicians should consider this disease in patients with chronic back pain and a history of exposure to tuberculosis. Future studies could focus on developing new diagnostic techniques that are more sensitive and specific, especially in regions where tuberculosis is endemic.