Lumbar nerve root pain with fever in tropical area: posterior spinal tuberculosis

The purpose of this report is to describe the case of tuberculosis osteitis of the posterior vertebral arch in a 35-year-old man with recent history of pulmonary tuberculosis. Clinical findings were pain due to bilateral inflammation of the lumbar nerve roots, fistulised cold abcess and motor deficit in both lower extremities. The tomodensitometry demonstrated a lytic bone lesion involving the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra in association with spondylitis and a large paravertebral abscess with calcification typical of tuberculosis. Cure was achieved by a single 12-month course of appropriate treatment.