A case of brucellar spondylodiscitis involving the cervical spine

Abstract

We have presented a patient of 71-year-age with brucellar spondylodiscitis, involving the cervical spine, especially the C3-C4 segment. The patient had painful percussion of the cervical spine and passive mobilization of the neck, decreased range of motion, and cervical paravertebral tenderness; but no abnormalities observed on neurological examination. Wright agglutination test for brucella was positive at 1/320. Cervical localization for brucellar spondylodiscitis is an unusual case and should be detected and treated as early as possible. In endemic regions, spinal involvement of brucellosis should be considered in cases with fever, neck and low back pain.

The Incidence, Changes and Treatments of Cervical Deformity After Infection and Inflammation

“…Brucella spondylitis was first reported by Tekkok et al, 107 but it is more common in the lumbar spine and rarely occurs in the thoracic or cervical spine. 108 There are two main types of Brucella infection: focal and diffuse. The diffuse type can lead to the softening of the involved vertebral endplate and the instability of the intervertebral disc, and segmental cervical kyphosis may occur with the progression of the disease.…”

Cervical spondylitic myeloradiculopathy due to chronic brucellosis in a Ugandan teenager

“…Recently, there have been increased reports of this zoonosis on the African continent [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . …”

“…The disease is protean and complications can occur in any organ or body system namely: genitourinary, haematological, cutaneous and ocular 1,4,5,6 .…”