Typhoid Spine in a Nigerian with Sickle Haemoglobin.

CASE REPORT A Yoruba schoolboy of sixteen was first seen in April 1962, having suffered from fever and pain ill the low back and the left hip for three weeks. He was thin but did not look ill. He was able to stand unaided, but his back had lost the normal lumbar curve and was held rigid. Percussion of the lumbo-sacral area caused pain and the erector spinae muscles were tender. Three weeks later the pain had become very severe and completely prevented him from walking. Radiographs revealed slight diminution of the L.4-L.5 disc space with a suspicion of early bridging (Fig. I ). A diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis of the spine was made. He was