Zakir Ali Shah, Uzma Arif, Muhammad Naseer Babar Khan, Asim Bilal.
Role of Chemotherapy in Tuberculosis of Spine.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;7(1):185-7.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of chemotherapy in tuberculosis of spine. Place and duration of study: From January 2012 to June 2012, at Nawaz Sharif Social Security Teaching Hospital, Lahore (Orthopedic department). Subjects and methods: 50 patients fulfilling the selection criteria were identified. History and clinical examination performed for sinus, abscess, effectiveness of chemotherapy and biplane x-rays of affected area of fifty patients were taken. Patients followed-up and outcome was ascertain favorable according to British Medical Research Council if there were no symptom of pain, no sinus or abscess on clinical examination and radiological healing of spinal lesion at the end of 12 weeks. Results: Out of 50 patients, 19 were males and 31 were females between 18-60 years. According to site of lesion thoracic spine was commonly involved (24 patients), lumbar spine in 16 patients followed by thoracolumbar junction in 10 patients. At end of follow-up, 30 patients achieved favorable status and 20 patients had unfavorable status. Conclusion: It is concluded that spinal tuberculosis can be effectively treated with chemotherapy.

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