Tuberculous spondylitis: Risk factors and clinical/paraclinical aspects in the south west of Iran

SummaryBackground and objectivesTuberculous spondylitis (TS) is both the most common and the most dangerous form of TB infection. Delay in diagnosis and management causes spinal cord compression and spinal deformity. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and paraclinical aspects and also to describe its risk factors in Khuzestan, a province located in the south west of Iran.MethodIn this medical record-based retrospective study 69 cases of TS registered in Khuzestan Health Center from 1999 to 2008, were reviewed. For each TS case two extra pulmonary TB cases (without spinal involvement) were randomly selected as control. Related data in patients were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16, USA) using chi square and Fishers exact test. Differences with P