J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2004 Jul;36(1):75-77.

A Case of Spinal Subdural Abscess Spreading from a Epidural Abscess

• Kim RS
• Kim JM

Abstract

We report a case of spinal subdural abscess spreading from a epidural abscess. A 70-year-old man was hospitalized for a mild fever, chill and severe back pain. Neurological examination on admission revealed back pain with numbness, sensory deficiency on left lower extremity and without bowel or bladder dysfunction. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) showed pyogenic spondylitis on L1, 2, 3 with epidural abscess. A patient was treated by empiric antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks. Six weeks later, follow-up MRI showed that the pyogenic spondylitis with epidural abscess had decreased, but a cylinder like subdural abscess after arachnoiditis. After surgery, the majority of the initial symptoms were relieved except a mild both lower extremities numbness.

Keyword

Pyogenic spondylitis; Spinal subdural abscess; Arachnoiditis

MeSH Terms

Abscess*
Aged
Arachnoid
Arachnoiditis
Back Pain
Epidural Abscess*
Fever
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypesthesia
Lower Extremity
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neurologic Examination
Spondylitis
Urinary Bladder