OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment of spondylodiscitis due to Brucella. METHODS: A total of 104 patients diagnosed with spinal spondylitis, of which 20 corresponded to Brucella spondylitis, treated conservatively with antibiotics or surgically by decompression and stabilization of the spine in any segment, from January 2006 to June 2011. We created a data sheet for collecting information containing patient identification, reported symptoms, physical signs, laboratory parameters and medical and surgical treatment. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were males and 7 females, with a mean age of 59.2 years and standard deviation of 13.6 years. Three patients were affected in the thoracic segment, 13 in the lumbar and lumbosacral segment, 4. Thirteen patients had fever, low back pain was present in the 20 patients, in 12 there were paresthesias, weakness in 9, arthralgias, myalgias and anorexia in 5, radiculopathy in 13, headache, and weight loss in 5 patients. Twenty cases received medical treatment with doxycycline combined with rifampicin. In 8 cases, posterior instrumentation combined with laminectomy and posterolateral fusion was performed, on 2, posterior instrumentation combined with discectomy and fusion of the affected level posterolateral was held and in one case, laminectomy and discectomy combined with fusion was performed. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of spondylodiscitis was 19.2%, with lower back pain and fever symptoms with high suspicion of spinal spondylitis. The decompression combined with stabilization and fusion is the treatment of choice.
Brucella; Spine; Prognosis; Prevalence; Clinical evolution
