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Research ArticleOther & Special Categories

Brucellosis of the Spine in Children—An analysis of 5 children from an endemic setting.

Justin Arockiaraj, Magdalenal Arockiaraj, Walid Ismail Attia and Khaled N. Almusrea
International Journal of Spine Surgery July 2021, 8108; DOI: https://doi.org/10.14444/8108
Justin Arockiaraj
1Spine Surgery Department, National Neurosciences Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
MS
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Magdalenal Arockiaraj
2Paediatric Emergency Department, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
MD
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Walid Ismail Attia
1Spine Surgery Department, National Neurosciences Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
MD, MSC, PHD
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Khaled N. Almusrea
1Spine Surgery Department, National Neurosciences Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
B.MED.SC, MD, FRCSC
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ABSTRACT

Background Brucellosis of the spine is quite common among adults in endemic regions. The incidence of brucellosis of the spine affecting children is very rare. This article describes the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, management and outcome of children with brucellosis of the spine. It also aims to create awareness among all health care professionals, especially spine surgeons, regarding this rare entity.

Methods This was a retrospective study of children aged less than 15 years who were diagnosed and treated for brucellosis of the spine. Confirmed cases of brucellosis in children who had completed a full course of a triple-drug regimen as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines were included. Outcome analysis included both clinical and radiological measures. Clinical measures included pain, neurological status, and return to school. Resolution of the abscess and sclerosis of the involved vertebra were taken as the radiological measure.

Results A total of 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl) with an average age of 10 years, ranging from 6 to 14 years, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up period was 32 months. All children presented with fever, back pain, and constitutional symptoms. Two of them had neurological deficits, and posttreatment, they improved to near normal neurological status. Only 1 child with an epidural abscess compressing the lumbar canal required surgical intervention. All the children were treated with a triple-drug regimen. Longer duration of treatment (14 months) was given for 2 children with history of relapse. All children were healed of the disease without any sequalae or relapse.

Conclusions Blood culture and standard agglutination tests are mandatory for the diagnosis of brucellosis. Children tolerated the triple-drug regimen well. Prolonged duration of treatment was required for children with relapse. Health education to all treating health care professionals and parents is of paramount importance for treatment and control of this endemic disease.

  • Brucellosis
  • spine
  • diagnosis
  • treatment

Footnotes

  • Disclosures and COI: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

  • This manuscript is generously published free of charge by ISASS, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. Copyright © 2021 ISASS
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International Journal of Spine Surgery: 19 (S2)
International Journal of Spine Surgery
Vol. 19, Issue S2
1 Apr 2025
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Brucellosis of the Spine in Children—An analysis of 5 children from an endemic setting.
Justin Arockiaraj, Magdalenal Arockiaraj, Walid Ismail Attia, Khaled N. Almusrea
International Journal of Spine Surgery Jul 2021, 8108; DOI: 10.14444/8108

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Brucellosis of the Spine in Children—An analysis of 5 children from an endemic setting.
Justin Arockiaraj, Magdalenal Arockiaraj, Walid Ismail Attia, Khaled N. Almusrea
International Journal of Spine Surgery Jul 2021, 8108; DOI: 10.14444/8108
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