Predicting neurological deficit in patients with spinal tuberculosis – A single-center retrospective case-control study

Abstract

Background: Identifying the risk factors for the neurological deficit in spine tuberculosis would help surgeons in deciding on early surgery, thus reducing the morbidity related to neurological deficit. The main objective of our study was to predict the risk of neurological deficit in patients with spinal tuberculosis (TB). Methods: The demographic, clinical, radiological (X-ray and MRI) data of 105 patients with active spine TB were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups – with a neurological deficit (n = 52) as Group A and those without deficit (n = 53) as Group B. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to predict the risk factors for the neurological deficit. Results: The mean age of the patients was 38.1 years. The most common location of disease was dorsal region (35.2%). Paradiscal (77%) was the most common type of involvement. A statistically significant difference (p 30° (OR – 3.92, CI – 1.21–12.7, p – 0.023), canal encroachment > 50% (OR – 7.34, CI – 2.32–23.17, p – 0.001), and cord oedema (OR – 11.93, CI – 1.24–114.05, p – 0.03) as independent risk factors for predicting the risk of neurological deficit. Conclusion: Kyphosis > 30°, cord oedema, and canal encroachment (>50%) significantly predicted neurological deficit in patients with spine TB. Early surgery should be considered with all these risk factors to prevent a neurological deficit.

Keywords

• spinal tuberculosis
• pott’s paraplegia
• neurologic deficit
• risk factors