Tuberculosis and the Skeleton:

It can also be carried to skeletal tissue via the bloodstream, showing up most often where there are large amounts of cancellous bone and hematopoietic marrow such as the ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and long bone metaphyses (Gossett 2003). However, it takes up to five to ten years for TB to reach the skeleton and only ten percent of the infected individuals will survive long enough for the disease to show up in their bones (Personal Communication with Hilton).

Tuberculosis of the Spine is known as Pott’s disease which is the most common location for lesions to occur once the bacteria has reached the skeleton. Any of the vertebra may be involved, but it is particularly damaging to the lower thoracic and the upper lumbar regions. The Spread is initially haematogenous to a vertebral body. It may then advance to a neighboring joint cavity resulting in tuberculous arthritis. There is adjacent vertebral collapse in association with a paravertebral abscess. The abscess may track distally to endanger the spinal cord (http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/homepage.cfm). This can lead to the collapse of one or more vertebral bodies, often times resulting in a sharp angle of ninety degrees in the affected segment (Fortuine 2005).