Rheumatoid involvement of the lumbar spine

On stereoscopic examination of the lumbar spines of 6 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and spinal disease we found typical rheumatoid erosions in the apophyseal joints. 2 also had severe asymmetrical disc destruction with associated involvement of the vertebral bodies and scoliosis. In one of these patients who developed Staphyloccocus aureus septicaemia, infection was localized in this part of the lumbar spine.