Related Experiment Videos
Brucellar spondylodiscitis in the lumbar region
Mehmet Turgut1, Omer Faruk Sendur, Mustafa Gürel
1Neurosurgery Department, Adnan Menderes University Hospital, Aydin, Turkey. drmturgut@yahoo.com
Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica
|May 23, 2003
Summary
Brucellosis can cause rare spinal infections like spondylodiscitis. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment lead to full recovery, highlighting its importance in spinal infection differential diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Rheumatology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that can affect multiple organ systems.
- Spondylodiscitis, an infection of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, is a rare but serious complication of brucellosis.
- Spinal infections require prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term morbidity.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old male farmer presented with radicular pain, spinal immobility, and systemic symptoms.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed infectious spondylodiscitis at the L4-L5 intervertebral space.
- Serological tests confirmed brucellosis with a positive Rose-Bengal test and high antibody titer (1/1280).
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with spondylodiscitis secondary to systemic brucellosis.
- Treatment with a combination of streptomycin, tetracycline, and rifampicin resulted in complete recovery.
- This case underscores the importance of considering brucellosis in the differential diagnosis of spinal infections, especially in endemic areas or in individuals with relevant exposure history.
Implications:
- Early recognition of brucellosis-related spondylodiscitis is crucial for effective management.
- Prompt and appropriate antibrucellar chemotherapy is highly effective in achieving favorable outcomes.
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for brucellosis in patients presenting with spinal infections, particularly those with risk factors.