a case report of spinal tuberculosis with multilevel vertebral fractures and paraplegia

Spinal tuberculosis (tb) is a rare extrapulmonary manifestation that can cause vertebral fractures, neurological deficits, and paraplegia. this report presents a 43-year-old male with sudden paraplegia, back pain, and sensory loss. mri revealed fractures in t10, t11, and l5, and histopathology confirmed spinal tb with concurrent pulmonary tb and pleural effusion. the patient’s history of chronic dexamethasone misuse contributed to immunosuppression and disease dissemination. classified as grade 4 paraplegia, his condition required surgical stabilization, anti-tb therapy, and supportive care. this case highlights the rarity of multilevel vertebral fractures and severe neurological deficits in spinal tb, emphasizing the importance of early imaging, tissue biopsy, and prompt multidisciplinary intervention to prevent permanent disability.