Paravertebral abscess and neurological deficits in cervical brucellar spondylitis

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection with a worldwide distribution, endemic in the Mediterranean region, and is associated with high morbidity in humans [1,2]. Osteoarticular complications are the most common focal complications of Brucella spp. infection [3]. These complications commonly affect the axial skeleton, with vertebral spondylitis accounting for 35%–50% of all osteoarticular complications [4–6]. Estimates of the incidence of spondylitis range from 9% to 31% [4,5]. While lumbar spine involvement is the most common, cervical involvement is a rare, but more severe, complication, accounting for 8.3% of cases of vertebral osteomyelitis in a recent study [4]. We present a case of brucellar spondylitis with paravertebral mass in the cervical segment that resulted in neurological deficits.