Spinal cord injury in tuberculous spinal epidural abscess patient with deficiency of vitamin D: a case report with literature review

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury is not only caused by trauma but also by non-trauma, such as spinal epidural abscess (SEA). Tuberculous SEA is a rare infectious disorder, a delayed diagnosis associated with morbidity and mortality. The problems of tuberculous SEA is not only infection but also neurological deficit, axial back pain, pathological fracture, deformity, and socioeconomic and psychogenic problem. There are a few cases of SEA caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus with decreasing body’s defense mechanism caused by a deficiency of vitamin D. This study aimed to evaluate the neurological recovery of non-traumatic spinal cord injury caused by spinal tuberculosis with spinal epidural abscess and vitamin D deficiency that treated with vitamin D as an adjuvant. Case Report: A 31-year-old female came to the orthopedic clinic with paraparesis ASIA grade C, axial back pain, and spinal deformity for three months, with vitamin D levels of 15.5 ng/ml. MRI showed epidural abscess at the level of the 10th-11th thoracic vertebrae, spondylodiscitis of the 10th-11th thoracic vertebrae accompanied by paraspinal abscess of the 8th thoracic vertebrae to the 1st lumbar vertebra. The diagnosis was confirmed by cultured and histopathological examination. The treatment was surgery, followed by anti-TB drugs and daily vitamin D 5000 IU for one year. After one year of follow-up, the patient returned to work without a neurological deficit and axial back pain. Conclusion: This report describes the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment of spinal cord injury in tuberculous SEA with a deficiency of vitamin D.