A study of risk factors for Pott’s disease

Abstract

Pott’s spine is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow growing gram-positive, acid-fast bacillus which becomes lodged in the bone via Batson’s venous plexus and lymphatic from primarily infected lung, lymph nodes, mediastinum and viscera, forming granulomatous inflammation and caseation necrosis. Pott's spine accounts for 2% of all cases of TB, 15% of extrapulmonary, and 50% of skeletal TB. The paradiscal, central, anterior subligamentous, and neural arch are the common vertebral lesions. Thoracic vertebrae are commonly affected followed by lumbar and cervical vertebrae. Predisposing factors for tuberculosis include poverty, overcrowding, illiteracy, malnutrition, alcoholism, drug abuse, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppressive treatment, and HIV infection. These are also predisposing factors for spinal tuberculosis. Older age, female gender, chronic peritoneal dialysis, household crowding and previous tuberculous infection were identified as risk factors for Pott’s spine. (10G) Additionally, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of spinal bone loss and an increased risk of spinal fractures in individuals with Pott’s spine. : To identify and evaluate the risk factors for Pott’s spine. : Present study was prospective in nature conducted among 441 patients of Pott’s spine. All patients fulfilling inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria were taken up for the study. Study was carried out over a period of 3 years. Serum Vitamin D was assessed.: Majority of the patients was in the age group of 41-50 years and most of them were male. In this study, we found that age, socioeconomic status, employment, presence of comorbidities and BMI(<18) were associated with increased risk of pott’s spine.: This cross-sectional study investigates 441 cases of intervertebral disc degeneration leading to disc bulge/protrusion/extrusion, focusing on demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors. The majority of cases (31.82%) occurred in individuals aged 41-50 years, with females accounting for a larger proportion (54.55%) than males. Religious demographics revealed a prevalence of Muslims (45.57%) and Hindus (42.17%), with bilateral involvement common. A substantial portion of patients resided in slum areas (60.09%), reflecting socioeconomic disparities, with the majority (60.31%) belonging to the lower socioeconomic status. Most patients reported symptoms lasting less than 6 months (61.36%) and came from families with 5 or more members (85.48%). Addiction history (78.45%) and pre-existing co-morbidities (65.75%) were prevalent. Notably, no significant associations were found between serum Vitamin D levels and demographic factors. Among the employed, a significant proportion were unemployed (31.97%), underscoring socioeconomic challenges. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the multifaceted nature of intervertebral disc degeneration, crucial for informing targeted interventions and management strategies.