Spinal epidural abscess is a rare medical emergency which if left untreated results in catastrophic and irreversible neurological damage. Risk factors (compromised immunity, spinal column disruption, source of infection) are present in the majority of patients. We describe a case of spontaneous spinal epidural abscess with any identifiable risk factor.
HlavinMLKaminskiHJRossJS: Spinal epidural abscess: a ten-year perspective. Neurosurgery27: 177–84, 1990.
2.
ReihsausEWaldbaurHSeelingW: Spinal epidural abscess: a meta-analysis of 915 patients. Neurosurg Rev23: 175–204, 2000.
3.
DarouicheROHamillRJGreenbergSB: Bacterial spinal epidural abscess. Review of 43 cases and literature survey. Medicine (Baltimore)71: 369–85, 1992.
4.
DavisDPWoldRMPatelRJ: The clinical presentation and impact of diagnostic delays on emergency department patients with spinal epidural abscess. J Emerg Med26: 285–91, 2004.
5.
TangHJLinHJLiuYC: Spinal epidural abscess experience with 46 patients and evaluation of prognostic factors. J Infect45: 76–81, 2002.
6.
TromblyRGuestJD: Acute central cord syndrome arising from a cervical epidural abscess: case report. Neurosurgery61: 424–5, 2007.
7.
Gómez-Caro AndrésADíaz-Hellín GudeVMoradiellos DíezFJ: Spinal cord compression and epidural abscess extension of pleural empyema. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg3: 317–8, 2004.
8.
SaigalGPostM J DKozicD: Thoracic Intradural Aspergillus Abscess Formation following Epidural Steroid Injection. American Journal of Neuroradiology25: 642–644, 2004.
9.
SandhuFSDillonWP: Spinal epidural abscess: evaluation with contrast-enhanced MR imaging. American Journal of Neuroradiology12: 1087–1093, 1991.
