Cervical brucellar spondylitis causing incomplete limb paralysis

Abstract Brucellosis, a zoonosis with worldwide distribution, is a systemic infection caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Meanwhile, brucellosis often causes complications, such as osteoarticular involvement, and spondylitis is the most prevalent and important clinical form. Here, is a case of cervical brucellar spondylitis causing incomplete limb paralysis in a middle-aged male. The diagnosis was based on clinical history, and supported by Brucella serology and magnetic resonance imaging. Quadruple antibacterial treatment continued for four weeks. In this case, the epidural abscess causing spinal cord compression resolved without surgery. In addition, the patient had recovered from most of the neurologic deficits.

High cervical spine spondylodiscitis management and literature review / Espondilodiscite da coluna cervical alta: manejo e revisão da literatura

Summary Spondylodiscitis affecting the cervical spine is the most unusual type. Disease progression can be dramatic, even causing quadriplegia and death. We present an unusual case that progressed with osteolytic lesions between C2 and C3, causing cord compression and epidural abscess. The patient was treated surgically by a double approach and improved without neurological deficits and with better inflammatory markers. We reviewed the current literature on the subject.

Resumo A espondilodiscite, que acomete a coluna cervical, é a de localização mais rara. Pode ter uma evolução dramática, inclusive causando tetraplegia e óbito. Apresentamos um caso atípico que evoluiu com lesões osteolíticas entre C2 e C3, causando compressão medular e abscesso epidural. O paciente foi submetido a tratamento cirúrgico por dupla abordagem e evoluiu bem, sem déficits neurológicos e com melhora dos marcadores inflamatórios. Revisamos a literatura vigente sobre o assunto.

Escalas de avaliação aplicadas à espondilite anquilosante pertinentes à fisioterapia / Ankylosing spondylitis evaluation scale related to physical therapy

A espondilite anquilosante (EA) é uma doença inflamatória crônica que acomete preferencialmente o esqueleto axial. A patologia evolui de forma insidiosa e é potencialmente debilitante, levando a redução da qualidade de vida dos indivíduos acometidos. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão literária das escalas de avaliação em EA (BASFI - Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, DFI - Dougado´s Functional Index, EVA – Escala Visual Analógica e BASDAI - Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) pertinentes à fisioterapia, especificamente dos domínios: função, dor, mobilidade da coluna, rigidez e avaliação global do paciente, presentes na área SM-ARD/Fisioterapia. Foi abordada também uma escala de avaliação radiológica, SASSS (Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score). A revisão estendeu-se de outubro a dezembro de 2006, mediante pesquisas em livros de acervos particulares e públicos e em base de dados. Constatou-se neste estudo a necessidade da realização de pesquisas, metodologias ou complementos visando à validação de instrumentos no Brasil que sirvam de esclarecimento sobre o dinamismo e comportamento da EA diante da intervenção fisioterapêutica.

The Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the axial skeleton. The pathology develops in an insidious way and it is potentially debilitated, taking reduction of the life quality. The objective of this study was to make a literature review of the evaluation scales in AS (BASFI - Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, DFI - Dougado´s Functional Index, VAS – Visual Analog Scale e BASDAI - Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index) related with physical therapy, specifically of the domains: function, pain, mobility of the column, rigidity and the patient's global evaluation, present in SM-ARD/ physical therapy area. This review showed also a scale of radiologic evaluation, SASSS (Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score). The literature revision was performed from October to December 2006, using books of private and public collections and data basis. It was verified, in this study, the need of researches, methodologies or complements aiming at the validation of instruments in Brazil in order to explain the dynamism and behavior of AS with physical therapy intervention.

Uso del fibroscopio en el manejo de la vía aérea de la espondiloartritis anquilopoyética: reporte de un caso / Use of the fiberscope in the management of the airway of the ankylopoietic spondylarthritis: a case report

La espodilitis anquilopoyética se caracteriza por brotes leves o moderados de espondilitis activa que alternan con períodos de inactivación total o casi total de la enfermedad con incapacidad. Se presenta el caso de una paciente sometida a artroplastia total de cadera derecha, ya que su enfermedad provocó una artrosis degenerativa de dicha cadera con incapacidad para la marcha. Por los test predictivos realizados por el personal experimentado durante el manejo de la vía aérea en el momento de la intubación a través del fibroscopio fue catalogada como vía aérea difícil.

The ankylopoietic spondylitis is characterized for mild or moderate outbreaks of active spondylitis that alternate with total or almost total periods of inactivación of the disease with incapacity. A case of a patient submitted to a total arthroplasty of the right hip is presented, since this disease caused to her a degenerative arthrosis of the said hip with incapacity for the march. Due to the predictable tests carried out by the experienced personnel during the management of the airway at the intubation moment through the fiberscope was catalogued as a difficult one.

Role of MRI in differentiating various causes of non-traumatic paraparesis and tetraparesis

To assess the frequency of various causes of non-traumatic paraparesis and tetraparesis in adults based only on the findings of magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. Design: Non-interventional descriptive study carried out from May 2001 to October 2002 at Radiology Department, CMH, Rawalpindi. Patients and A total of 100 adult patients who presented with non-traumatic paraparesis or tetraparesis, were studied. MRI spine of all the patients and MRI brain of selected patients, was carried out. Based on MRI findings alone causes of non-traumatic paraparesis and tetraparesis were categorized. Paraparesis was more frequent than tetraparesis. Cord compression was found in 72% cases. Neoplastic compression, infective spondylitis and non-compressive myelopathies were the main causes of paraparesis while spondylotic myelopathy was the main cause of tetraparesis. Based upon MRI findings causes of non-traumatic paraparesis or tetraparesis can be subcategorized into spondylotic, infective or neoplastic cord compression and non-compressive myelopathies. Further subcategorization of neoplastic lesions according to their compartment of origin can also be done