[Articular infections in adults. Peripheral and vertebral involvement with common bacteria and tubercle bacteria]

2,166 cases of joint infection in adults were reviewed during a national inquiry. The peripheral infections due to common germs (1,080 cases) and tubercle bacilli (260 cases) were characterised by their frequency after the age of 60, the role of corticotherapy in onset of the infection and the predominance of staphylococci (60%) in pyogenic infections, the low proportion of deaths (4%) and the necessity of early treatment to observe better functional results. The vertebral lesions due to common bacteria (491 cases) were mainly localised in the lumbar regions (70%) whereas tuberculous infections (335 cases) usually affect the lower dorsal vertebrae (50%). Neurological signs and abscess were more frequent during tuberculous involvement. Needle puncture of the vertebral focus should be recommended owing to its help in etiological diagnosis. A cure was generally obtained without operation in the form of complete or incomplete block, this appearance is, however, less frequent than radiological signs of fixed osteolysis. The mortality is just as low as in peripheral infections.