[2 cases of vertebral hydatidosis treated by the association of surgery and mebendazole].

Two cases of vertebral hydatidosis were diagnosed only at the time of operation. The first one, a lumbar localisation treated as a tuberculosis, by posterior graft and chemotherapy went to a large vertebral destruction with paraplegia. An anterior approach revealed the hydatids. A large excision associated with graft and osteosynthesis gave only a temporary improvement, but the treatment by Mebendazol cured the neurological symptoms. The second case, with a large destruction of L5 and S1, was also treated as a tuberculosis even after a decompressive laminectomy and recognized at a second operation on the sacrum. A left paralysis, incompletely improved by a decompression, appeared as favourably influenced by Mebendazol. Epidemiologic conditions of hydatosis, difficulties of diagnosis of the rare bony localizations, are recalled. The great problem of treatment, especially in the most frequent vertebral lesions, where complete excision is impossible, appears as hopefully improved by Mebendazol.