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July 2024

Pott's Disease: More than Just a Med School Test Question

Dr. Ashley McLenithan

An elderly female with hx of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, CHF, hypothyroidism, diabetes, solitary kidney on right side. She had been seen at a pain clinic over the last couple of years; she has been receiving injections in her spine and her bursa, in addition to tramadol 100mg and Percocet 5mg TID. Over the last 3 days the patient has had increase in proximal anterior hip and quad flexor pain as well as a suprapubic pain. She has had difficulties ambulating to the bathroom so she now is wearing a depends. She is incontinent of urine and stool. She denies saddle paresthesia or weakness to her lower extremities, but notes that pain is 10/10 with movement. She has not had an epidural or greater trochanteric bursa injection for over a month. She denies fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain other than suprapubic pain, dysuria, hematuria. She denies IV substance use or surgeries to her spine.

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MRI of the spine showed the above findings and patient underwent surgery with biopsy.

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Was discharged to sub acute rehab.....

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Cultures return with Disseminated Tuberculosis

  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis

  • Transmission: aerosolization and inhalation

  • Can affect lungs, renal cortex, meninges, epiphyses of long bones, vertebrae

  • Detection: sputum smear (AFB) and culture (1 week) or NAAT (1 day)

  • 3 smears to determine positive or negative used in conjunction with NAAT testing

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