Chronic thoracolumbar subdural empyema: Case report and surgical management
Recommended Citation
Basheer A, Macki M, Buraimoh M, and Mahmood A. Chronic thoracolumbar subdural empyema: Case report and surgical management. Surg Neurol Int 2017; 8:167.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Publication Title
Surg Neurol Int
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spinal cord abscesses and spinal subdural empyemas are rare and difficult to treat.
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old male presented to an outside institution with 2 months of progressive low back pain, weakness, and bowel incontinence; he was diagnosed with an L4 epidural abscess that was poorly managed. When the patient presented to our institution, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a well-organized chronic subdural abscess at the thoracolumbar junction. Following resection, his back pain resolved but he was left with a residual paraparesis.
CONCLUSION: Subdural abscesses are rare and should be considered among the differential diagnoses for intraspinal mass lesions. Treatment should include prompt surgical exploration and decompression combined with appropriate prolonged antibiotic treatment.
PubMed ID
28840071
Volume
8
First Page
167
Comments
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License