Spinal epidural abscess: a diagnostic challenge.

Deardre Chao; Anil Nanda

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PubMed · 11996416

Spinal epidural abscess: a diagnostic challenge.

Deardre Chao·Anil Nanda

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Abstract

Epidural abscess of the spinal column is a rare condition that can be fatal if left untreated. Risk factors for epidural abscess include immunocompromised states such as diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, cancer, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, as well as spinal procedures including epidural anesthesia and spinal surgery. The signs and symptoms of epidural abscess are nonspecific and can range from low back pain to sepsis. The treatment of choice in most patients is surgical decompression followed by four to six weeks of antibiotic therapy. Nonsurgical treatment may be appropriate in selected patients. The most common causative organism in spinal epidural abscess is Staphylococcus aureus. Spinal epidural abscess involving actinomycosis is rare.

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Actinomycetales Infections Decompression, Surgical Diagnosis, Differential Epidural Abscess Humans Risk Factors Spinal Diseases Journal Article Review

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Deardre Chao, Anil Nanda. 2002-04-01. Spinal epidural abscess: a diagnostic challenge.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11996416/

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