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Updated: Oct 4, 2026
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Paravertebral abscess formation and knee arthritis due to brucellosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
B Duyur1, H R Erdem, S Ozgocmen
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
To report a case of Brucellosis causing severe joint and vertebra destruction in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Setting:
Ankara, Turkey.
Case Report:
A 47-year-old man with a known diagnosis of (RA) for 5 years developed paravertebral and epidural abscesses and vertebral fractures and nerve root compression due to brucellosis. The patient underwent surgery for L3-L4 vertebra stabilisation and medical treatment for knee arthritis.
Conclusion:
It is important to be aware of the possibility of brucellosis in endemic areas, even among patients with a known diagnosis of RA presenting with clinical pictures that may be confused with a flare-up of the RA itself. Steroids and NSAIDs may have the potential to mask disease manifestations.
