ANTERIOR APPROACH FOR CERVICAL POTTS-DISEASE - A SERIES OF 7 CASES

This study reports 7 cases of cervical Pott's disease, gathered during 6 years in the department of neuro-surgery of Ibn Rochd U.H.C. 4 fema les and 3 males, aged between 9 and 52 years were included. All the pa tients complained of cervicobrachial pain and weakness of the limbs. C linical features were : deterioration of general status, rachidian syn drome and neurological impairment with motor and sensitive deficit. Ra diological analysis found a destructive and extensive lesion, cervical kyphosis from 10 degrees to 60 degrees, retropharyngeal abcess and in traspinal canal extension of infection. Diagnosis was confirmed by his tological study in all cases. In addition to antituberculous therapy a nd preoperative cervical traction in 4 cases, all the patients had spi nal fusion using an anterior approach. Post operative immobilization i n a cervical collar varied from 9 to 12 months. All 7 patients had ful l neurological recovery, 6 patients had an excellent bony fusion and c ervical kyphosis was corrected. For the remaining patient, the bone gr aft was mobilized without neurological disorders. This study confirms anterior arthrodesis efficiency. This procedure in conjunction with pr eoperative traction, allowed stabilization of the spine and healing of vertebral lesions with excellent kyphosis correction.