ROLE OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN SPINAL TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

Objective: The main idea of this research work is to assess the role of magnetic resonance imaging to examine the degree of disease of spinal TB (Tuberculosis). Methodology: This research work was an elaborate descriptive carried out in the surgical department & orthopedics department in General Hospital, Lahore from August 2017 to March 2019. Sixty patients suffering from the spinal TB were the part of his research work who got admission through emergency department of the same hospital. Fifty five percent (n: 33) patients were males & 45.0% (n: 27) were female’s patients. The range of the age of patients was from 14 to 36 years. The average age of the patients was thirty-three years. We noted the clinical aspects of all the patients & we collected the elaborated information of the patients on a well-organized Performa. Confirm patients of spinal TB were the part of this research work. Patients diagnosed with no tuberculosis were not the part of this research work. Results: The very frequent symptom was backache in 63.0% (n: 38) patients. We found the compression of the spinal cord in 26.60% (n: 16) patients. Very frequent affected level was the thoracolumbar spine present in 45.0%. We found the diffuse contribution as very rare & only 5.0% (n: 3) patients were available with the involvement of more than one level. The most basic modality of imaging was the plain radiography. The most important effective investigation was MRI. The findings of the MRI for spinal TB were decreased intervertebral space between discs in 95.0% patients, wedge body collapse in 30.0% (n: 18) patients, whole body destruction in 20.0% (n: 12) & para-spinal abscess in 40.0% (n: 24) patients. We found the calcification in 30.0% (n: 18) patients & cord compression in 26.60% (n: 16) patients. Conclusion: The most effective and valuable investigation in the patients suffering from spinal TB is MRI. It provides the data about the disease extend & it is the best method to provide guidelines for the surgical intervention. The use of the MRI is necessary during the follow up to check the response of the whole treatment. Key Words: Destruction, methodology, compression, MRI, spinal, TB, suffering, response, treatment, therapy, discs.