Cervical Spine Spondylitis with an Epidural Abscess in a Patient with Brucellosis: A Case Report

Mohammad Reza Hasanjani Roushan¹, Soheil Ebrahimpour¹, Zeinab Mohseni Afshar², Arefeh Babazadeh¹

1 Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R. Iran
2 Department of Infectious Diseases, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

DOI: 10.2478/jccm-2019-0013

Introduction: Human brucellosis, the most prevalent zoonotic disease worldwide, is a systemic infection which can involve several organs. Among musculoskeletal complaints, spondylitis is the most frequent complication of brucellosis and primarily affects the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae. The involvement of the cervical spine is infrequent.
Case report: This case report concerns an unusual case of cervical spine spondylitis with an epidural abscess due to Brucella in a 43-year-old man. The diagnosis was based on the patient being domiciled in an endemic region, his symptoms and his occupation. Clinical outcomes improved following antimicrobial therapy of rifampin, doxycycline, and gentamycin, and were confirmed radiologically.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for these patients. The timely commencement of medical treatment can help prevent surgery.