Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarticular manifestations of human brucellosis occur in 20-40% of patients while spondylodiscitis is the most severe form of the bone and joint structures involvements. Aim: The aim of this paper is tho show clinical and radiological caracteristics of osteoarticular forms of brucellosis, with special reference to spondylodiscitis. Material and methods: The medical histories of 120 hospitalized patients at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center of Sarajevo University, diagnosed with brucellosis, were analyzed. Results: Osteoarticular manifestations had sixty-nine patients, representing 78.4% of all localized forms of the disease. Spondylodiscitis represents 40.6% of all osteoarticular manifestations of the disease. Nine patients (32.1%) had paravertebral and paraspinal abscess. Median diagnostic interval for spondylodiscitis (116±160 days) was almost twice prolonged compared to the arthritis and sacroilitis (p

Key words: brucellosis, osteoarticular manifestations, spondylodiscitis.