Isolated subacromial-deltoid bursitis as first manifestation of Brucellosis

Abstract

Described first by Kennedy JC in 1904, Brucella bursitis remains one of the rarest osteoarticular manifestations during this infection. Its prevalence was only 1-1.2% in wide series but seems to be clinically under-diagnosed. Indeed, its systematic screening by joint ultrasound objectified it in 5.2% of cases in some series. Shoulder bursitis (subacromial, subdeltoid or subacromial-deltoid) remains exceptional and unusual in brucellosis with only few sporadic cases in world literature. This clinical presentation of brucellosis represents a real diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We report an original observation of subacromial-deltoid bursitis as the first manifestation revealing septicemic brucellosis in 21-year-old Tunisian man