RESUMO
A total of 38 cases of senile brucella spondylitis disease at our hospital during January 2002 and March 2012 were analyzed .After admission , all of them were definitely diagnosed on the basis of epidemiological history , clinical manifestations , laboratory tests , imaging and pathological examinations . Over a follow-up period of 12 months, 17 cases were cured after standardized drug treatment .Among 21 surgical cases, there were curing (n=17) and improving (n=2).Senile brucellosis spondylitis has distinct serological and pathological characteristics .And formulating the diagnostic criteria may improve its diagnostic rate and reduce its misdiagnostic rate .And standardized drug therapy achieves a better curing rate and a proper timing of surgical intervention improves its clinical outcomes .