Abstract

The zygapophyseal joint is very rarely affected with mycobacterium tuberculosis. We report three new observations of tuberculosis of zygapophyseal joint. It usually affects immunocompromised patients particularly by HIV. The clinical symptoms are not very different from spinal tuberculosis. Plain radiographies of the lumbar spine are not contributory. The radiographic diagnosis was achieved through CT scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnosis was made in the first case by polymerase chain reaction and in the second case by identification of mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the latter case, the diagnosis was presumptive with satisfactory outcome on tuberculosis treatment. Zygapophyseal arthritis is an unusual location of the bone and joint tuberculosis. The performance of an efficient imaging (CT scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging) is necessary in front of any inflammatory low back pain.