Epidural abscess is caused by bacterial infection of epidural soft tissue. If untreated, an expanding suppurative infection in the spinal epidural space impinges on the spinal cord, producing sensory symptoms and signs, motor dysfunction, and, ultimately, paralysis and death. An epidural abscess is an infection that forms in the space between your skull bones and your brain lining intracranial epidural abscess. Backgroundrationale spinal epidural abscess sea is a rare but lifethreatening infection. Multilevel epidural abscess after epidural injection. An epidural abscess is an infection of pus within the spinal canal. Treatment involves antibiotics and sometimes drainage of. Aug 27, 20 spinal epidural abscess sea is a severe pyogenic infection of the epidural space. Like a brain abscess, an epidural abscess or a subdural empyema can cause fever, headache, sleepiness, vomiting, seizures, a stiff neck, and other signs of brain dysfunction. On hospital day 3, the patients mental status continued to worsen and he was intubated for airway protection.
A spinal epidural abscess is an accumulation of pus in the epidural space that can mechanically compress the spinal cord. N2 spinal infections have historically been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Update on spinal epidural abscess nejm journal watch. Abstract spinal epidural abscess sea was first described in the medical literature in 1761 and represents a severe, generally pyogenic infection of the epidural space requiring emergent neurosurgical intervention to avoid permanent neurologic deficits. A spinal epidural abscess threatens the spinal cord or cauda equina by compression and also by vascular compromise see images below. Jun 19, 2018 lumbar epidural abscess is localized within epidural space between first lumbar vertebrae and first sacral vertebrae.
The diagnosis is often delayed, and radiculopathy accompanied by severe disability or even paralysis are seen in severe stages of the disease. Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon condition with an estimated incidence of 0. Spinal epidural space is spread from neck below the skull to sacrum. Spinal epidural abscess sea remains a relatively infrequent diagnosis. Or a blood clot may form in the large veins venous sinuses that carry blood from.
A r mackenzie, r b s laing, c c smith, g f kaar, f w smith. Epidural abscess is one of the rare causes of back pain. May 31, 2016 the clinical presentation and impact of diagnostic delays on emergency department patients with spinal epidural abscess. Predisposing risk factors include diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus, intravenous drug abuse, and previous history of spinal surgery or injection.
A pockets of pus may surround the spinal cord andor the nerve roots, and create enough pressure to affect neurological function eg, pain, numbness, or. Prevention treatment of certain infections, such as ear infections, sinusitis, and bloodstream infections, may decrease the risk for an epidural abscess. Spinal epidural abscessa rare complication after epidural. Typically hematogenous spread from other source of infection. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is key in spinal epidural abscess sea, as delay can lead to paralysis or death.
Laboratory, imaging, and microbiological studies are. I was in the hospital and a neurosurgeon came in and said this is an emergence. There is an operative note from later in the day that describes evacuation of the abscess. A spinal epidural abscess is a potentially lifethreatening bacterial infection of the epidural space, due to its insidious onset and nonspecific symptoms of fever, back pain and malaise. Abscess confined to epidural adipose tissue in spine. Epidural abscess of the cervical spine radiology case. Spinal epidural abscess neurologic disorders merck. Large epidural abscess spreads over several segments. Cord compression can be demonstrated radiologically, but the. Spinal epidural abscess sea is an uncommon condition that warrants urgent diagnosis and treatment, because early pharmacotherapy significantly improves prognosis and prompt surgical decompression is often necessary to. Intracranial epidural abscess and subdural empyema brain. Abscesses that are enclosed within the bony confines of the skull or spinal column can expand to compress the brain or spinal cord and cause severe symptoms, permanent complications, or even death.
Epidural abscess is a topic covered in the johns hopkins abx guide to view the entire topic, please sign in or purchase a subscription official website of the johns hopkins antibiotic abx, hiv, diabetes, and psychiatry guides, powered by unbound medicine. Your story matters citation bond, allison, and farrin a. Spinal epidural abscess sea is an uncommon but serious condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Spinal epidural abscess sea is a rare condition that has previously been treated with urgent surgical decompression. It is called a spinal epidural abscess if it is found in the spine area. A spinal abscess usually occurs as a complication of an epidural abscess. Epidural infections can cause injury to the spinal cord. The thoracic spine is most often involved followed by the lumbar spine. Currently the annual incidence rate of seas is estimated to be 2. Oct, 2015 likely source of infection upper cervical epidural abscess methicillinsensitive staphylococcus aureus was associated with almost twothirds of cases of spinal epidural abscesses. Lumbar epidural abscess is localized within epidural space between first lumbar vertebrae and first sacral vertebrae. Spinal epidural abscess merck manuals professional edition. It has a peak incidence in the fifthtoseventh decades of life with a male predominance, which might be due to predisposing conditions and risk factors that are more prevalent in older people 2. Spinal epidural abscess has an esti mated incidence rate of 0.
He want the drill a hole in a vertebra and drain the abscess to treat the tremendous pain as well as get a proper culture. Epidural abscess epiduralabscess svensk definition. A spinal cord abscess is caused by an infection inside the spine. Spinal epidural abscess spinal epidural abscess sea is a collection of pus or inflammatory granulation between the dura mater and the vertebral column. Risk factors for epidural abscess include immunocompromised states such as diabetes mellitus, alco. Pdf spinal epidural abscess sea is an uncommon but serious condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Spinal epidural abscess msd manual professional edition.
Upper cervical epidural abscess in clinical practice. The prognosis of sea is highly dependent on the timeliness of its diagnosis before neurological deficits develop. The incidence is increasing with the increase in intravenous drug use and increasing spinal procedures. It is associated with potentially devastating neurological consequences. The incidence is increasing with the increase in intravenous drug. Spinal epidural abscess has an estimated incidence rate of 0. There are associated changes at the c34 level consistent with advanced diskitis osteomyelitis. Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number such as 911 if you have symptoms of spinal cord abscess. Spinal epidural abscess sea is an uncommon condition that warrants urgent diagnosis and treatment, because early pharmacotherapy significantly improves prognosis and prompt surgical decompression is often necessary to prevent or minimize neurologic complications.
Quite often, it forms in the space between the bones of your spine and the lining membrane of your spinal cord spinal epidural abscess. A subdural empyema is a pocket of pus that develops between the dura mater and the middle layer of the tissues arachnoid mater covering the brain. This infection forms in the space around the dura, which is the covering that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve root. Diagnosis is by mri or, if unavailable, myelography followed by ct.
Brain abscesses and spinal epidural abscesses are serious, potentially lifethreatening infections of the central nervous system. They can threaten the spinal cord by compressive effect, leading to. In our case, the catheter remained in situ for 6 h only. Spinal epidural abscesses are often initially misdiagnosed, particularly in neurologically intact patients.
The rapid accumulation of purulent material in the space between the dura matter and the osseoligamentous confines of the vertebral canal may injure the spine by direct compression 1 or local ischemia 2,3. An intracranial epidural abscess is a pocket of pus that develops between the skull and the top layer of tissues dura mater covering the brain. Nonoperative management of spinal epidural abscess. Vertebral osteomyelitis, discitis, and spinal epidural abscess in. Forty cases of spinal epidural abscess were encountered at our institution between july 1979 and march 1991. The exact mechanism by which an epidural abscess causes spinal cord damage is unclear. Sixteen patients used drugs intravenously, and six had undergone spinal.
The symptoms of back pain, and back pain with fever, are common reasons for patients to seek medical care. Spinal epidural abscess sea is a collection of pus or inflammatory granulation between the dura mater and the vertebral column. Spinal epidural abscess sea is an uncommon entity, with an incidence of 0. Lumbar epidural abscesscausessymptomstreatmentantibiotics. Sep 18, 2014 spinal epidural abscess sea remains a relatively infrequent diagnosis. The development of spinal epidural abscess after short. Medical and surgical management of spinal epidural abscess. Prospective evaluation of a clinical decision guideline to diagnose spinal epidural abscess in patients who present to the emergency department with spine pain. They can threaten the spinal cord by compressive effect, leading to sensory motor deficits and. The classic triad of fever, spinal pain, and neurological deficit is present. The most important determinant of outcome is early diagnosis and initiation of.
Paraspinal and epidural abscesses are rare conditions often diagnosed later in the disease process that can have significant morbidity and mortality. Pia is the innermost membrane attached to spinal cord and dura is the thickest outer most membrane that protects spinal cord. Epidural abscess is a rare but important suppurative infection of the central nervous system. Incidence of sea is on the rise, due to factors such as an aging population, increase in use of invasive spinal. Mortality rates among spinal epidural abscess cases have improved over time, from a mortality rate of 81% in the 1920s, to 34% in 19541960, and 15% in 19911997. Likely source of infection upper cervical epidural abscess methicillinsensitive staphylococcus aureus was associated with almost twothirds of cases of spinal epidural abscesses. Spinal epidural abscess is known for its nonspecific presentation, and can be easily missed. T1 vertebral osteomyelitis and spinal epidural abscess. Mri was repeated with gadolinium, findings concerning for l4 epidural vs. The early symptoms of epidural abscess often mimic less serious conditions and there is a varied rate of progression of the disease. This infection is called an intracranial epidural abscess if it is inside the skull area. We report a significant increase in the incidence of epidural abscess after june 1988 p 0.
Apr 01, 2002 spinal epidural abscess has an estimated incidence rate of 0. Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon condition with an estimated incidence of 23 per 10,000 hospital admissions. Classic triad of fever, back pain and neurologic symptoms is only present in 15% of patients. Adding it to the differential is often the critical step in making the diagnosis.
Spinal epidural abscess radiology reference article. It has a peak incidence in the fifthtoseventh decades of life with a male predominance, which might be due to predisposing conditions and risk factors that are more prevalent in older people 2 risk factors include 3, 4. Epidural abscess is a rare disorder caused by infection in the area between the bones of the skull, or spine, and the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord meninges. Vertebral osteomyelitis and spinal epidural abscess.
The new england journal of medicine n engl j med 355. An epidural abscess results in a pocket of pus that builds up and. Treatment involves antibiotics and sometimes drainage of the abscess. The clinical presentation and impact of diagnostic delays on emergency department patients with spinal epidural abscess. Epidural abscess of the spinal column is a rare condition that can be fatal if left untreated. Epidural abscess is a purulent secretion, which spreads in to epidural space. This article outlines the clinical presentation, evaluation, and management of brain abscesses and spinal epidural abscesses, with a specific focus on. Multilevel epidural abscess after epidural injection john teijido, 1pinky jha, md mph facp 1department of internal medicine, medical college of wisconsin, milwaukee, wi objectives patient presentation discussion references learning objective 1. Spinal cord abscess is the swelling and irritation inflammation and the collection of infected material pus and germs in or around the spinal cord. A nulliparous parturient woman received an epidural catheter for pain relief for labour and delivery. Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon disease with a relatively high rate of associated morbidity and mortality. Spinal epidural abscess tags differential diagnosis of. Spinal epidural abscess generally presents as a hematogenous spread of bacterial infection most commonly, staphylococcus aureus. Diffuse epidural enhancement posterior to the l4 and l5 vertebral bodies compressing the thecal sac and resulting in moderate severe spinal canal stenosis.
The cord is displaced posteriorly and to the right. The indications and timing for operative management of spinal. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism identified, and the infectious source in sea emanates from skin and soft tissue infections in about 20 % of instances. Jul 12, 2018 a spinal epidural abscess threatens the spinal cord or cauda equina by compression and also by vascular compromise see images below. Early medical and surgical intervention is necessary to.
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