[Results of the conservative treatment of 171 cases of Pott's disease without neurologic involvement].

One hundred and seventy-one patients suffering from Pott's disease of the spine were treated by the same surgeons between 1965 and 1985. Chemotherapy, which varied during the period, was given in every case. Plaster immobilization was only used in the first 41 patients, until the authors concluded that it did not prevent worsening of the kyphosis. For technical reasons, surgical treatment was not used in any of these 171 patients. The results showed, in children, not only the usual development of kyphosis in the course of treatment but worsening later in the course of growth. For this reason, arthrodesis by the anterior route should be considered to obtain early fusion when the facilities and technical skills are available. In adults, the indications for surgery are more limited. Whilst there is a risk that kyphosis may reach a mean of 20 degrees during conservative treatment, it does not increase later. The authors conclude that it is necessary to link the indications for surgery to the availability of facilities at each individual hospital called upon to treat these patients.