Case Study: Successful Spinal Tuberculosis Surgery During Pregnancy

Within days, the patient started improving, and her bladder and bowel control slowly returned, along with sensations in both her legs.

A 25-year-old woman in her second trimester had progressive numbness from the waist down, which progressed to a loss of mobility and control over bladder and bowel functions. Gradually, she became bed bound and suffered from excruciating pain in her back. An MRI scan was done under general anaesthesia as the patient was finding it difficult to lie on her back due to her severe pain.

Successful Spinal TB Surgery During Pregnancy

MRI of her spine revealed that she had a TB Spine, and her 5th and 6th dorsal spinal vertebrae had collapsed entirely and were severely compressing her spinal cord, threatening to render her paraplegic permanently. This case was more challenging due to her ongoing pregnancy with an otherwise healthy baby. It presented significant risks, including the need to minimize blood loss and x-ray exposure to protect both mother and child, limitation of analgesia options, etc.

Spinal Tuberculosis During Pregnancy

There were multiple challenges in every step of her operation and also the subsequent treatment. The multi-disciplinary team, led by Neurosurgeon Dr. Rathijit Mitra, used the latest techniques to ensure the success of the surgery. She was positioned on her left, and a thoracotomy was done on her right side to gain access to the diseased part of the spine through her chest cavity, retracting her right lung. To minimize blood loss, a unique tool called the bone scalpel (an advanced device that uses ultrasound to cut bone) was used instead of a standard drill to remove the diseased part of the spine. An implant was then placed to fill the gap and fixed with screws. Specimens shipped for histopathology and Microbiology demonstrated that it was spine TB, and she was put on anti-TB drugs, which the medical professionals surveyed. The patient is walking alone, and she and her unborn kid are fit.

This issue presents challenging medical procedures through cutting-edge technology, expertise, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Its accomplishment shows a commitment to pushing the boundaries of healthcare and requests discussion around inventions that can change patient results.