Visser, Hilgaard FransMotsitsi, Nkosana Silas2008-09-022008-09-022008Visser, HF & Motsitsi, NS 2008, 'Percutaneous trans ilio-sacral biopsy of the spine in sacral tuberculosis', The Internet Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, vol. 8, no. 1. [http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijos/front.xml]1531-2968http://hdl.handle.net/2263/6846Spinal tuberculosis is the most common form of skeletal tuberculosis. Tuberculous involvement of the lower spine is rare. Sacral tuberculosis is very rare; most reported cases in the literature are case reports. Spinal tuberculosis may present atypically: neural arch involvement, skip lesions, sacral involvement, or as extradural tuberculosis. Diagnostic bone biopsy is an integral part of patient work-up. Patients may be infected by a variety of micro organisms, especially patients who are HIV positive or those who have AIDS. The gold standard technique for biopsy of the sacrum is CT-guided percutaneous biopsy. The technique has a very low complication rate in experienced hands. We describe a simple, safe and fast percutaneous biopsy technique we used to obtain biopsy of the upper sacrum. The details are stated in this report.113503 bytesapplication/pdfenInternet Scientific Publications LLCSacral tuberculosisPercutaneous techniqueIlio-sacral approachSpine--TuberculosisTomographySacroiliac joint--RadiographyHIV-positive personsArticle