• Ashok K Rathod, Vishwajeet Singh, Prateek Patil, and Hemant Singh.
• Department of Orthopedics, LTMMC and LTMGH, Sion, Mumbai, 400022, India.
• Eur Spine J. 2017 Dec 1; 26 (12): 3170-3177.

PurposeTo present cases of spinal tuberculosis in advanced pregnancy treated on anti-tuberculous drug regimen with successful outcome and proposing alternative paradigm to surgical decompression. A case series of five patients in stages of advanced pregnancy with neurologic deterioration and spinal tuberculosis were reported and treated.MethodsFive patients with backache in advanced stages of pregnancy were reported. Patients were diagnosed as cases of spinal tuberculosis on further imaging studies. Patients were treated and followed up till complete clinical and radiological recovery.ResultsFour out of five patients were treated conservatively on ATT and rest. One patient underwent decompression without instrumentation. All patients recovered neurologically. There were foetal complications in two cases with foetal demise. One patient who underwent surgical decompression had preterm labour with still birth, apparently due to adverse reactions with anaesthetic drugs.ConclusionSpinal tuberculosis in pregnancy is a rare occurrence. Hesitation in performing radiographs complicates the outcome with delay in diagnosis and neurological compromise. There are no clear guidelines for treatment of such cases. Conservative treatment with ATT in pregnant patients may be a viable approach. Neurological compromise does not mandate surgical decompression, which in itself is not devoid of complications. Concern of foetal complications is high in surgical treatment.

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