The Range of Movement of the Spine with Tuberculous Spondylitis.

Abstract

The range of moument of the spine with tuberculous spondylitis has been studied on lateral roentgenograms. Three ruoentgen photographs were taken in different postures for each patients : (1)kept standing reluxed, (2)maximally flexed, and (3)maximally backward flexed. On the first roentgenograms angles made by destruction of vertebral bodies, extent of the compensatory lordosis and its localisation were studied. Compsring the second and the third roentgenograms, the range of movement of each vertebral body was examined. At the level of the involved vertebrae no measurable movement was found. Betwwen. the not involved vertebral bodies, marked limitation of movement was observed, and there were some patterns of the limitation according to the localisation of tuberculous involvement.