World Tuberculosis Day 2023: Treatment of bone and spine TB or osteoarticular TB

India has brought the global Sustainable Development Goals target to end TB by 2025. This World Tuberculosis Day 2023, here's all you need to know about bone and spine TB or osteoarticular TB and its treatment

Every year, World Tuberculosis Day is marked on March 24 to raise awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease and this year’s World TB Day theme is #WeCanEndTB where India’s healthcare sector is well aligned with this theme as it is working hard towards fulfilling the dream to eliminate TB by 2025 as India has brought the global Sustainable Development Goals target to end TB by 2025.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a prevalent infectious disease in India and according to the WHO Global TB Report 2022, India has an estimated 3 million new TB cases and over half a million TB deaths. Of these cases, bone and spine TB constitute a significant portion, accounting for approximately 1-2% of all TB cases in the country.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vikas Tandon, Senior Consultant - Spine Surgeon at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, explained, “Bone and spine TB, also known as osteoarticular TB, occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria infect the bones and joints. The disease primarily affects the spine, causing a condition called Pott's disease. It can also affect the long bones of the limbs, hip, and knee joints. The incidence of bone and spine TB in India is high, primarily due to the country's large population, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to healthcare. The disease is more prevalent in rural areas, where access to medical care is limited, and people often live in crowded and unhygienic conditions.”

He elaborated, “It is evident that the number of new TB patients declined by 18% between 2015 and 2021 in India but this pace of decline is clearly not enough to end TB by 2025. A case in point is Indian Spinal Injuries Centre where we are witnessing a decline as there were total TB cases were 200 men and 175 women in 2021 whereas it declined in 2022 to 152 men but spiked in women 236 cases. The total number of Spine TB cases in 2021 was 80 (men) and 66 (women). In 2022 while we witnessed a decline in men to 65, however, women cases increased to 94. Similarly, in 2021, there were 10 cases of Bone TB in men and 4 women cases. In 2022, total Bone TB cases declined to 5 but women cases remained at 4. The trend clearly indicates that women are at higher risk.”

Talking about the treatment of osteoarticular TB, Dr Vikas Tandon shared, “Treatment of bone and spine TB in India is similar to that of other TB infections. It involves a combination of antibiotics taken over a period of six to nine months, with some patients requiring surgery for the removal of the affected tissue. The treatment of bone and spine TB poses unique challenges due to the difficulty in delivering antibiotics to the infected area. As a result, doctors often recommend a more extended duration of antibiotic therapy, along with the use of immobilization devices to prevent further damage to the affected bones and joints.”

He highlighted, “In addition to antibiotic therapy, patients with bone and spine TB may also require nutritional support to promote healing and reduce the risk of further complications. Follow-up care is essential to monitor the patient's response to treatment and identify any adverse reactions to medication. Bone and spine TB remains a significant public health challenge in India. With improved access to healthcare, sanitation, and public education, the incidence of the disease can be reduced. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment remain the key to the successful management of bone and spine TB in India.”