[Osteoarticular manifestations of brucellosis. Current aspects]. / Manifestations ostéo-articulaires de la brucellose. Aspects actuels.

The authors report 118 cases of brucella osteoarthritis, of which 61 were observed over the last ten years. The most frequent localisations are spinal (53.4%), sacro-iliac (34.5%) and coxofemoral (15.5%). The clinical aspects are not very specific. The general signs, frequent during coxitis and to a lesser degree in spondylodiscitis, are rare during sacro-iliac involvement. The radiological appearance is mainly characteristic in the spine. The diagnosis is usually made in the laboratory, depending on a search for specific antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity tests. Treatment requires the use of intra-tissular and intra-cellular penetrating antibiotics (tetracycline and rifampicin) administered for a long period. The course usually leads to a cure without sequelae.

[Lumbar intraspinal tumors seen in a rheumatological context]. / Tumeurs intrarachidiennes lombaires observées en milieu rhumatologique.

On the basis of a 50 case study, the authors insist on the difficulty of diagnosing lumbar intraspinal tumors seen in a rheumatological context. The increase in pain and spine and spine stiffness at night are the most significant semiological characteristics. A generally slight neurological deficiency is noted in 29 cases (58%) and 21 patients (41%) have a clinical picture identical to that of discal hernias. X-rays of the lumbar spine show signs of bone erosion in 24% of cases. Lumbar puncture furnishes major indications in 85.5% of cases. Contrast testing almost always demonstrates the presence of a tumor. Lumbar intraspinal tumors include a very wide variety of histological types, among which neurinomas, ependymomas and extra-dural malignant tumors are the most frequent.