Abstract

FIGUEROA, Lorena; LORENZO, Mariano; MARTINEZ, Diego  and  ALBERIONE, Federico. Absceso epidural espinal: nuesta experiencia en un año. Rev. argent. neurocir. [online]. 2006, vol.20, n.1, pp.37-40. ISSN 1850-1532.

Objetive. To describe and analyze the treatment of 3 patients with a spinal epidural abscess (SEA). Description. Case 1 (male, 58 years old): with a history of left knee's septic arthritis, and a two-month history of lumbar pain, who refered a progresssive paraparesis. MRI: D8-D10 discitis and SEA. Case 2 (female, 68 years old): with a history of previous percutaneous treatment;  for lumbar pain was admitted with a septic shock, parestesias and pain in both legs. MRI: L4-L5 discitis, SEA and bilateral psoas abscess. Case 3 (male, 56 years old): with a history of previous long-term steroid treatment for lumbar pain; was admitted with a septic shock and tetraparesis. MRI: anterior cervicothoracolumbar SEA. Intervention.  In both cases 1 and 2, laminectomy and drainage were performed. In the third case, the favorable outcome was due to antibiotic treatment. Conclusion. Surgery plus antibiotic treatment were the gold standard for patients who showed neurological deficit. For patients without neurological deficit and an extensive lesion along the spinal cord or an increased surgical risk, antibiotic treatment was suggested.

Keywords : Medical treatment; Spinal epidural abscess; Surgical treatment.

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