Skip to main content
. 2022 Mar 23;41:241. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2022.41.241.31928

Table 1.

demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and management of children with spinal TB at Tygerberg Hospital from January 2012 to December 2015

Characteristic Description n=32 (%)
Demographics and HIV status
Age ≤ 5 years 16 (50)
6-10 years 9 (28)
11-14 years 7 (22)
Sex Male 11 (34)
Female 21 (66)
District City of Cape Town 20 (63)
Rural districts 12 (37)
HIV status Positive 1 (3)
Negative 28 (88)
Unknown 3 (9)
Spinal TB presentation and diagnosis
Spine region Thoracic only 17 (53)
Thoraco-lumbar 5 (16)
Lumbar only 9 (28)
Cervical-thoracic-lumbar 1 (3)
Number of vertebrae affecteda 1-2 vertebrae 17 (53)
3-4 vertebrae 9 (28)
≥5 vertebrae 6 (19)
Spinal deformity Kyphosis 28 (88)
No deformity 4 (12)
Spine-at-risk signs ≤ 2 15 (47)
> 2 17 (53)
Spinal TB diagnosis Bacteriologically confirmed 25 (78)
Clinically diagnosed 7 (22)
Drug susceptibility testingb Drug-susceptible TB 22 (69)
Mono- or multidrug-resistant TBc 5 (16)
No drug susceptibility test result 5 (16)
Spinal TB management
Surgery No surgery 2 (6)
Minor procedured 10 (31)
Fusione 17 (53)
Other corrective surgerye 3 (9)
Discharge pathway Home 18 (56)
Regional or District Hospital 5 (16)
TB Hospital 6 (19)
Rehabilitation Centre 3 (9)
a

Based on MRI, bDrug susceptibility was determined from a spine biopsy, n=23, or from another disease site, n=4. cRifampicin-resistant, n=2; Multidrug-resistant, n=3; dMinor procedures were minimally invasive and included biopsies, costotransversectomies and abscess drainage. eFusion and other corrective surgeries were interventions to prevent or treat spinal deformity or neurological deficit