Vertebral hydatid disease. Clinical experience with 27 cases.

The authors present 27 cases of vertebral hydatidosis with clinical and laboratory findings. The most frequent location of the lesion was the lumbar spine. Principal neurological symptoms were paraparesis, sphincter disturbances, paresthesia and paraplegia. The average number of surgical interventions per patient was 2.6; the most common procedure was laminectomy with extirpation of the cyst and surgical toilet. The results of surgical treatment were generally good in the immediate postoperative period, but long-term results were poor.