J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2007 Jun;14(2):105-109. 10.4184/jkss.2007.14.2.105.

Cervical and Thoracolumbar Epidural Abscess: A Case Report

• Choi CH
• Kim HJ
• Pai HJ
• Park YS

• KMID: 1941663
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2007.14.2.105

Abstract

Epidural abscess is a rare disease that can cause severe neurological complications or death if it is not recognized and treated early. Authors report a case of panspinal epidural abscess, which is diagnosed by MRI and treated with surgical drainage and antibiotics.

Keyword

Epidural abscess

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Drainage
Epidural Abscess*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Rare Diseases
Anti-Bacterial Agents

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Peripheral enhanced epidural fluid collection can be seen in lumbar epidural space on T2 weighted sagittal image and gadolinium-enhanced sagittal image.

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  Fig. 2. Intermediated signal epidural abscess in cervical epidural space, which compresses the spinal cord posteriorly can be seen on T2 weighted images.

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  Fig. 3. Laminectomy is done and epidural abscess is drainaged by gently inserted nelaton catherter.

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  Fig. 4. Severe instability is caused from wide laminectomy.

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  Fig. 5. Epidural abscess is disappeared on follow up (postoperative 7 months) cervical, thoracic and lumbar MRI.

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  Fig. 6. Follow up (postop. 12 months) L-spine AP and Lateral radiograph reveals firm fixation and no loosening of instrumentation.

Reference

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