Tuberculous sacroiliitis: report of a case

Our case concerns a 32-year old Cameroonian male presenting with tuberculous sacroiliitis. Diagnosis was made on the basis of a positive abscess needle aspirate. Tuberculous sacroiliitis is rare and generally an isolated phenomenon. Its insidious presentation leads to delayed diagnosis. The affection is often overlooked due to lack of awareness of the clinicians, the usually good condition of the patient and minimal signs of sacroiliac joint infection. Haematological data are frequently non contributory. High risk groups include developing countries immigrants, immunodepressed patients and low socioeconomic status. Accurate diagnosis is based on percutaneous synovial fluid or abscess aspirate bacteriology. CT-scan and NMR are the most helpful radiological examinations.