[Osteoarticular manifestations of brucellosis. Current aspects]

The authors report 118 cases of brucella osteoarthritis, of which 61 were observed over the last ten years. The most frequent localisations are spinal (53.4%), sacro-iliac (34.5%) and coxofemoral (15.5%). The clinical aspects are not very specific. The general signs, frequent during coxitis and to a lesser degree in spondylodiscitis, are rare during sacro-iliac involvement. The radiological appearance is mainly characteristic in the spine. The diagnosis is usually made in the laboratory, depending on a search for specific antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity tests. Treatment requires the use of intra-tissular and intra-cellular penetrating antibiotics (tetracycline and rifampicin) administered for a long period. The course usually leads to a cure without sequelae.