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'''Pott's disease''' or '''Pott disease''' is a presentation of extrapulmonary [[tuberculosis]] that affects the [[Vertebral column|spine]], a kind of tuberculous arthritis of the intervertebral joints. It is named after [[Percivall Pott]] (1714–1788), a London surgeon who trained at [[St Bartholomew's Hospital]], London. The lower [[thoracic vertebrae|thoracic]] and upper [[lumbar vertebrae]] are the areas of the spine most often affected. Scientifically, it is called tuberculous [[spondylitis]] and it is most commonly localized in the thoracic portion of the spine.
==[[Pott's disease overview|Overview]]==
Pott’s disease results from haematogenous spread of tuberculosis from other sites, often pulmonary. The infection then spreads from two adjacent vertebrae into the adjoining [[intervertebral disc]] space. If only one vertebra is affected, the disc is normal, but if two are involved, the disc, which is avascular, cannot receive nutrients and collapses. The disc tissue dies and is broken down by caseation, leading to vertebral narrowing and eventually to vertebral collapse and spinal damage. A dry soft tissue mass often forms and superinfection is rare.


==Signs and symptoms==
==[[Pott's disease historical perspective|Historical Perspective]]==
 
* [[back pain]]
==[[Pott's disease pathophysiology|Pathophysiology]]==
* [[fever]]
 
* night [[sweating]]
==[[Pott's disease causes|Causes]]==
* [[anorexia (symptom)|anorexia]]
 
* Spinal mass, sometimes associated with [[numbness]], [[paraesthesia]], or [[muscle weakness]] of the legs
==[[Pott's disease differential diagnosis|Differentiating Pott's disease from other Diseases]]==
 
==[[Pott's disease epidemiology and demographics|Epidemiology and Demographics]]==
 
==[[Pott's disease risk factors|Risk Factors]]==
 
==[[Pott's disease natural history, complications and prognosis|Natural History, Complications and Prognosis]]==


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
* [[Blood test]]s
- CBC : leukocytisis
– Elevated [[erythrocyte sedimentation rate]] >100 mm/h
* [[Tuberculin skin test]]
- Tuberculin skin test (purified protein derivative [PPD]) results are positive in 84-95% of patients with Pott disease who are not infected with HIV.
* [[Radiograph]]s of the spine
- Radiographic changes associated with Pott disease present relatively late. The following are radiographic changes characteristic of spinal tuberculosis on plain radiography:
**Lytic destruction of anterior portion of vertebral body
**Increased anterior wedging
**Collapse of vertebral body
**Reactive sclerosis on a progressive lytic process
**Enlarged psoas shadow with or without calcification
- Additional radiographic findings may include the following:
**Vertebral end plates are osteoporotic.
**Intervertebral disks may be shrunk or destroyed.
**Vertebral bodies show variable degrees of destruction.
**Fusiform paravertebral shadows suggest abscess formation.
**Bone lesions may occur at more than one level.
* [[Bone scan]]
* [[computed tomography|CT]] of the spine
* [[Biopsy|bone biopsy]]
* [[MRI]]


==Late complications==
[[Pott's disease history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Pott's disease physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Pott's disease laboratory findings|Laboratory Findings]] | [[Pott's disease imaging findings|Imaging Findings]] | [[Pott's disease other diagnostic studies|Other Diagnostic Studies]]
* Vertebral collapse resulting in [[kyphosis]]
 
* [[Spinal cord compression]]
==Treatment==
* [[Sinus (anatomy)|sinus]] formation
* [[paraplegia]] (so called Pott's paraplegia)


==Prevention==
[[Pott's disease medical therapy|Medical Therapy]] | [[Pott's disease surgery|Surgery]] | [[Pott's disease prevention|Prevention]] | [[Pott's disease cost-effectiveness of therapy|Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy]] | [[Pott's disease future or investigational therapies|Future or Investigational Therapies]]
Controlling the spread of tuberculosis infection can prevent tuberculous spondylitis and arthritis. Patients who have a positive [[Mantoux test|PPD test]] (but not active tuberculosis) may decrease their risk by properly taking medicines to prevent tuberculosis. To effectively treat tuberculosis, it is crucial that patients take their medications exactly as prescribed.


==Therapy==
==Case Studies==
* non-operative – [[tuberculosis treatment|antituberculous drugs]]
* Chiropractic treatments
* [[analgesic]]s
* immobilization of the spine region by rod (Hull)
* [[Surgery]] may be necessary, especially to drain spinal [[abscess]]es or to stabilize the spine
*Richards intramedullary hip screw – facilitating for bone healing
*Kuntcher Nail – [[intramedullary rod]]
*Austin Moore – intrameduallary rod (for Hemiarthroplasty)
*Thoracic spinal fusion as a last resort


==Cultural references==
[[Pott's disease case study one|Case #1]]
The fictional [[Hunchback of Notre Dame]] had a gibbous deformity (humpback) similar to the type caused by tuberculosis. In [[Henrik Ibsen]]'s play "A Doll's House," Dr. Rank suffers from "consumption of the spine." Furthermore, Jocelin, the Dean who wanted a spire on his cathedral in [[William Golding]]'s "The Spire" probably suffered and died as a result of this disease. English poets [[Alexander Pope]] and [[William Ernest Henley]] both suffered from Pott's disease. [[Anna Roosevelt Cowles]], sister of president [[Theodore Roosevelt]], suffered from Pott's Disease. [[Chick Webb]], swing era drummer and band leader, was afflicted with tuberculosis of the spine as a child, which left him hunchbacked. The [[Sicily|Sicilian]] [[mafia]] boss [[Luciano Leggio]] had Pott's disease and wore a brace. Morton, the railroad magnate in [[Once Upon a Time in the West]], suffers from the disease and needs crutches to walk. Writer Max Blecher also had Pott's Disease. Marxist thinker and Communist leader [[Antonio Gramsci]] suffered from Pott's disease, probably due to the bad conditions of his incarceration in [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|fascist Italy]] during the 1930s. Italian writer, poet and philosopher [[Giacomo Leopardi]] suffered from this disease.  It also features prominently in the book ''This Is a Soul'', which chronicles the work of American physician [[Rick Hodes]] in Ethiopia.


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 17:14, 28 November 2012

Pott's Disease
Classification and external resources

Overview

Historical Perspective

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Pott's disease from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy | Surgery | Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

External links

  • "Tuberculous arthritis", MedlinePlus, USA: NIH. Public domain.

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