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Brucella spondylitis complicated by an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm and deep venous thrombosis: case report and review of the literature

Spondylite brucellienne compliquée par un anévrisme infecté de l’aorte abdominale et une thrombose veineuse profonde

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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Brucellosis is a common zoonosis, which still remains as a major health problem in certain parts of the world. Spondylodiscitis is the most frequent osteoarticular complication of brucellosis. Herein is reported an uncommon case of a middle-aged male treated for brucellosis who developed 2 years after the treatment brucellar spondylodiscitis complicated by a psoas muscle abscess, an infected abdominal aorta aneurysm and deep venous thrombosis of IVC, common iliac, external iliac and common femoral veins. CT and CT angiography were the imaging modalities depicting the findings. After an endovascular stent graft placement in abdominal aorta aneurysm, a CT guided drainage of retroperitoneal abscess revealed Brucella melitensis as the pathogen microorganism. Diagnosis of spondylodiscitis and contiguous psoas abscess is usually simple but aortic involvement is difficult to identify and can be easily overlooked. A high degree of suspicion is essential to reduce the delay for the treatment.

Résumé

La brucellose est une zoonose qui continue de représenter un problème majeur de santé publique dans plusieurs pays du monde. La spondylodiscite est la plus fréquente complication ostéo-articulaire de la brucellose. Le cas rapporté ici est celui d’une forme inhabituelle chez un homme d’âge moyen qui a présenté deux ans après traitement une spondylodiscite brucellienne compliqué d’un abcès du psoas, un anévrisme infecté de l’aorte abdominale et une thrombose veineuse profonde de la veine cave inférieure, des veines iliaque commune, iliaque externe et des veines fémorales communes. Le scanner et l’angioscanner ont permis le diagnostic. Après mise en place endovasculaire d’un stent dans l’anévrisme aortique, l’analyse bactériologique du produit de drainage de l’abcès rétropéritonéal, drainage guidé par scanne, révéla la présence de Brucella melitensis. Le diagnostic de la spondylodiscite brucellienne et d’un abcès du psoas contigu est habituellement facile, mais l’implication d’un anévrisme aortique est difficile à reconnaître et peut être méconnu. Un haut degré de suspicion est essentiel pour diminuer le délai de mise en route du traitement.

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Correspondence to D. Evangelopoulos.

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Kokkinis, K., Stathopoulou, S., Petrocheilou, G. et al. Brucella spondylitis complicated by an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm and deep venous thrombosis: case report and review of the literature. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 18, 23–27 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-007-0256-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-007-0256-7

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