Two cases of tuberculosis of the thoracic spine with extrapleural extension of paravertebral abscesses, presenting radiologically as cold abscesses away from the spine in the PA chest radiograph, are presented. The radiographic features and response to antitubercular drugs are discussed.
Tuberculous paraplegia in pregnancy is reported to be rare. Paraplegia due to tuberculosis has a good prognosis if surgical decompression and stabilisation are done early together with chemotherapy. Vaginal delivery is not contraindicated in pregnancy complicated by paraplegia, but is associated with problems related to the initiation and progression of labour. Performing spinal nursing on an unstable spine with a rapidly enlarging gravid uterus in the third trimester of pregnancy poses a significant challenge. We report successful simultaneous Caesarean section and surgical treatment of a paraplegic spine due to tuberculosis.