• Bo Huang, Chang-Qing Li, Ying Zhuang, Jian-Ping Xu, and Yue Zhou.
• Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, People's Republic of China.
• Eur Spine J. 2012 Jun 1;21 Suppl 4:S525-30.

IntroductionOnly 12 cases of musculoskeletal tuberculosis (TB) that occurred at the site of recent blunt trauma have been previously described.Materials And MethodsA 43-year-old previously healthy man experienced an uncomplicated bursting fracture at the L2 vertebra without any spinal tuberculosis (ST)-associated evidence. During the conservative treatment, he was in good physical condition with back pain totally subsiding and occasional ambulation in a spinal brace, whereas 7 months after the original trauma, he presented with a characteristic manifestation of ST at the same vertebra.ResultsIntraoperatively, biopsy confirmed ST of the L2 vertebra and radical debridement with an anterior fusion was performed. The patient received an 18-month course of anti-TB regimen. Excellent clinical outcomes were achieved.ConclusionIn developing countries, where TB is still widely prevalent, there must be a heightened awareness of the risk of ST at recently fractured vertebrae, as demonstrated in this case.

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