Risk factors for neural deficit in spinal tuberculosis.

From 1975 through 1989, retrospective study of 155 patients with spinal tuberculosis was carried out at Ramathibodi Hospital to study predisposing factors to neural deficit and results of treatment. Two groups of patients who had no neural deficit and had neural deficit were compared. Clinical characteristics of the patients between the two study groups were similar with regard to sex, duration of symptoms, number of vertebrae involved, angle of gibbus deformity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. There were statistical differences in age, cephalad level of infection, loss of vertebral body and clinical evidence of cold abscess. For patients with neural deficit, the results generally are good with anterior decompression and stabilization.