Abstract

CARIES SPINE: COMPARISON OF COMBINED SURGICAL AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT WITH MEDICAL MANAGEMENT AT BOLAN MEDICAL COLLEGE, BALOCHISTAN

Dr. Saleem Khan*, Dr. Bezan Baloch, Dr. Rehana Kamal, Dr. Afshan Mushtaq, Dr. Huma Naeem Tareen, Dr. Muhammad Saleem, Dr. Hayat Muhammad Kakar and Mir Zaman Kasi

Abstract

Background: Caries spine is a major health problem in our country. The management either with medical means alone or surgical intervention along with the ATT is being debated for long time. There are several factors to assess the outcome between the two treatment options. Objective: To compare the short term outcome in combined surgical and medical management with medical management alone in caries spine, with six month follow up. Study Design and Setting: Randomized controlled trial. Department of Neurosurgery, Bolan medical college, Quetta. Eight months from 25th June 2010 to 25th February 2011. Methods: our study was conducted on two groups, twenty four patients in each group; they were diagnosed as cases of caries spine on the basis of history, clinical examination, ESR, X-Ray spine and MRI spine appearances. All patients were randomly distributed in two groups; one group underwent surgical intervention along with the ATT (group A) while other was treated with medical treatment (ATT) alone (group B). Results: Statistically significant difference was found in between the treatment groups at final follow up visit at 6th month in terms of Frankel Grade, bladder involvement and ESR decline. 88.88% in Group A and 35.29% in group B improved from poor to good Frankel grade. Conclusion: Surgery is beneficial in patients with caries spine.

Keywords: Pott’s disease, medical treatment, surgical treatment, out come, caries spine