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) |
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