A Case Report of Rare Presentation and Delay in the Diagnosis of Neuropathic Abdominal Pain Secondary to Asymptomatic Pott’s Spine in Elderly Patients

The presence of vertebral tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries and Southeast Asia is well known, but developed nations such as the USA and UK also claim a good share because of immigrants and the HIV population. We present a unique case series of two patients with chronic abdominal pain where various differentials and arduous investigation were employed. Finally, after a few months, we could locate the lower thoracic Pott’s spine and commenced the treatment with successful resolution of symptoms. Surgeons and gastroenterologists should rule out the spinal cause of abdominal pain and also be aware of other atypical presentations before labeling it functional or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or somatoform disorders. Extensive investigation, cost, delay in diagnosis, and emotional disturbances could be the end product commonly encountered in a neuropathic abdominal pain patient if a high level of suspicion is not kept at the initial presentation. Above all, potential bony deformity, neurological deficits, and their irreversible sequelae such as paraparesis can also be thwarted.