Tuberculous abscesses of the cervical spine with quadriparesis.

Four cases of tuberculosis of the cervical spine with quadriparesis either from subluxation, and/or compression of the spinal cord are described. Our surgical approach has been laminectomy with excision of abscess and cervical fusion. Pre and post operative cervical traction with Crutchfield tongs on Stryker beds was employed in three of the four cases. Excision of these abscesses and cervical fusion, following improvement of the nutritional status and adjunctive chemotherapy, can reverse paralysis in these patients. Three of our four patients recovered.