Operative treatment of progressive deformity in spinal tuberculosis.

We report on 14 patients with tuberculosis of the spine treated by operation. All had disease of three or more vertebrae with involvement of both the anterior and posterior columns and a progressive kyphotic deformity in spite of conservative treatment. We consider such spines to be 'unstable' and have found that anterior as well as posterior fusion with instrumentation is necessary.

Epidemiological survey of spinal cord injury: A study of 377 patients.

The total number of patients admitted to the Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Riyadh Central Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from June 1979 to March 1984 approached 450 patients. Of those, 377 (369 males and 8 females) patients with complete records and sustaining traumatic injury were studied. The patients were divided into four groups: cervical, dorsal, dorsolumbar and lumbar.

Evaluation of radiological investigations in spinal tuberculosis.

Thirty-four cases of spinal tuberculosis were investigated by plain radiography, computerised tomography and myelography followed by computerised tomography. All the patients were operated on and the findings compared with the results of the investigations.

Bifacetal dislocation following tuberculosis of the cervical spine.

We present a case of bifacetal dislocation following tuberculosis of the cervical spine with a minimal neurological deficit and a huge retropharyngeal abscess in a 14-year-old Saudi child. Treatment was by anterior debridement, decompression and bone grafting followed 2 weeks later by posterior wiring and fusion from C2 to C5. We also review the literature relating to this subject.