Situation
Mrs. S.E. is a 60-year old school
teacher from Fresno, California who developed tuberculosis while traveling abroad in
India. She was treated with antibiotics but developed spinal collapse from the infection
and progressive paralysis in her legs. This is termed Pott’s disease. The patient was
referred to Dr. McCormack after her MRI showed the spinal cord was being compressed by a
spicule of bone that was directly behind the patient’s heart and very difficult to
get to (Figure 15).
Figure 15. MRI shows area of spinal collapse with pressure on the spinal cord.
"x" indicates area of pressure. Double "x" indicates spinal cord.
Treatment
Dr. McCormack performed surgery
through the same incision used for heart surgery. He removed the bone spicule to
take the pressure off the spinal cord working between the vessels coming off the heart.
After surgery the patient had improvement in her walking, although she still uses a cane.
Figure 16. MRI after surgery. The pressure on the spinal cord is relieved and the area is
reconstructed with the patient’s own bone.
Patient Comment
"Dr. McCormack was great. I know I had a difficult problem because
my doctors in Fresno told me so. After meeting Dr. McCormack, I had complete trust
in him. My walking is much better after the surgery, and I'm thankful I’m not
in a wheelchair."
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Copyright the Neurospine Institute 1998.
Last edited 09/11/98.
