title: Brucellar spondylodiscitis in the lumbar region.
abstract: A 59-year-old male farmer presented with a rare case of spondylodiscitis as a manifestation of systemic brucellosis. The patient presented with radicular pain and restricted mobility of the spine due to localized muscle spasm in addition to systemic complaints. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated discovertebral involvement at the L4-5 intervertebral space, indicating infectious spondylodiscitis. The Rose-Bengal test was positive and the serum antibody titer was 1/1280. The patient was treated with streptomycin combined with tetracycline plus rifampicin, with complete recovery. Early diagnosis is important and prompt antibrucellar chemotherapy is effective in most cases. Therefore, spondylodiscitis due to brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal infections.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, Adnan Menderes University Hospital, Aydin, Turkey. drmturgut@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turgut
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Sendur
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gürel
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013752:Tetracycline; D012293:Rifampin; D013307:Streptomycin