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Significant decrease seen in incidence of spinal tuberculosis during 10-year period
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During the 10-year study period, investigators found a significant decrease in the incidence of spinal tuberculosis in the United States, with a rate of one case per 2 million people in the final year of the study.
Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database, researchers performed an epidemiological study between 2002 and 2011 and identified 75,858 patients who were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). Of these, 2,789 patients were diagnosed with spinal TB. Investigators collected data on patient age, sex, race, comorbidities, insurance status, location of treating hospital, hospital teaching status and region. After discharge weights were applied, investigators calculated the incidence of spinal TB, which was adjusted for population growth.
Findings showed that from 2002 to 2011, the incidence of spinal TB significantly decreased from 0.07 cases per 100,000 persons to 0.05 cases per 100,000 persons. Investigators noted patients with TB had a median age of 51 years and 61% were male. Overall, 11.6% had diabetes and 8.1% presented with paralysis.
According to researchers, spinal surgery for TB was needed for 619 patients, with the thoracolumbar spine being the most common location. Instrumentation of three or more segments was needed in 50% of patients. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure
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: Ramos reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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