ABSTRACT

Purpose:

To evaluate patients with brucellar spondylodiscitis (BS), tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS) and pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) clinically, radiologically and with labaratory findings, and aid the clinician in determining the etiological agent

Method:

Fifty-eight patient with spondylodiscitis were recruited. They were divided into 3 groups as BS, TS and PS. All of the patients were evaluated by clinical, laboratory and radiological methods.

Results:

Of the 58 patients included in the study 30 were men and 28 were women, with a mean age of 52.1±14.2 (23-84). According to the etiological agent there were 13 men ad 14 women in the BS group; 6 men and 8 women in the TS group, and 11 men and 6 women in PS group. In the PS group, the microorganism isolated mostly S aureus. In the PS group, the presence of risk factors and elevation of acut phase reactans were statistically significant. In the radiological examination of the TS group thoracical vertebrae, especially their posterior segments were involved. In all groups low back pain and back pain were the mostly encountered syptoms. In the BS group elevated body temperature with respect to other groups and the sufficiency of noninvasive methods in the diagnosis were observed.

Discussion:

In patients with symptoms of spinal infection (low back pain, bac pain, fever) and a history of tuberculosis and involvement of toracal vertebrae TS must be considered. In those a history of brucellosis and occupational exposure and, if there is lomber vertebrae involvement BS must be considered, and finally in patients with concomitant diseases, a history of trauma and surgery and with elevated acute phase reactions, PS should be kept in mind.