Tuberculosis of spine is a common disease in India. Here is one lady whose MRI picture shows pus formation and compression on the spinal cord. This lady also had 1 litre of pus in her abdominal cavity and was in severe pain. She underwent a surgery in which the pus was drained and bone grafts were inserted in the place where the bone was destroyed by the tuberculosis. We stabilized the spine using titanium plates and screws. Patient could start walking as early as the 7th day and was sent home in 8 days. Use of titanium plates has another radvantage, they are MRI compatible. We could easilty monitor her disease healing after 9 months by doing another MRI.
MRI showing cord compression
X-ray after surgery shows screws and rods
Torticollis
Torticollis is a condition where the child presents with contracture of the neck muscles pulling the neck down towards one side, as seen in this girl age 6. The right ear is lower and because she has received no treatment there ia a facial asymmetry. The child can not extend the neck fully due to tight muscle tissue.
During the corrective surgery a tiny incision is made near the collar bone and the contarcted muscle is released. In some cases like this one another rincision is made just behind the earlobe to release the contracted muscle.
