Journal List > J Korean Orthop Assoc > v.26(5) > 1114661

Kang, Chung, Lim, and Kim: Late Onset Paraplegia following Solid Spine Fusion in tuberculosis of the Dorsal Spine: Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Since Pott discribed paraplegia of tuberculosis of the spine, a lot of articles on pathogenesis of paraplegia have been reported, main factor is edema due to toxins from exudate that has a temporary inhibitory effect on nerve cell function and rare causative factors in paraplegia of tuberculosis of the spine are direct pressure by a bony ridge, extruded sequestrum, pachymeningitis and longitudinal shrinkage. After bony fusion, it has been understood that paraplegia do not occur in most patients of spine tuberculosis. But we have paraplegia in two patients of tuberculosis of the dorsal spine during each 20 and 34 years after complete spine fusion. Bladder dysfunction and spasticity were recovered after surgical decompression. The authers thought this late onset paraplegia was caused by bony compression due to progressive kyphosis after spine fusion, but exact pathogenesis of paraplegia is still unknown.

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