According to standard Indian practice for osteoarticular tuberculosis, the usual total duration of multidrug antitubercular chemotherapy prescribed for spinal tuberculosis is:

• A 2 months
• B 6 months
• C 9 months
• D 12 to 18 months ✓

Explanation

Indian textbooks and national practice extend antitubercular therapy for bone and joint tuberculosis beyond the 6 month pulmonary regimen, commonly to 12 to 18 months. The reasons are the relative avascularity of diseased bone and sequestra, slow drug penetration into caseous material and cold abscesses, and the higher risk of reactivation. A 6 month course is considered inadequate for osteoarticular disease in this setting.

Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.