Which statement is true about TB spondylodiscitis?

• A. It can present with a gibbus deformity
• B. It never involves the thoracolumbar region
• C. It never causes prevertebral abscess
• D. It is restricted to the cervical spine

Answer: (A)

TB spondylodiscitis (Pott disease) damages the front part of the vertebral bodies and the discs, causing collapse that pushes the spine forward and creates a sharp, wedge-shaped kyphotic deformity called a gibbus. This anterior collapse is the hallmark that explains why a gibbus can appear in this condition, making that statement true. The disease is not limited to the cervical spine; it often involves the thoracic and lumbar regions, including the thoracolumbar junction. It can also extend into surrounding soft tissues to form prevertebral abscesses. So the other statements don’t fit because the condition can involve the thoracolumbar region, can cause prevertebral abscesses, and is not restricted to the cervical spine.