Intradural spinal cord abscesses especially in the cervical spine are a rare occurrence. We report a rare presentation of an intradural extramedullary abscess at the atlantoaxial level, initially misdiagnosed as an epidural collection. The patient presented with worsening quadriparesis preceded by a 2-week history of upper respiratory tract infection and neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging sh...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, spinal epidural abscess due to Staphylococcus aureus remains a challenge to clinicians. In this study, we describe the clinical features and outcomes of patients with spinal epidural abscess due to S. aureus. METHODS Thirty one cases of spinal epidural abscess due to S. aureus treated at the National Taiwan University Hospita...

Spondylodiskitis with epidural abscess due to brucellosis is very rare and serious complication, and it may result in neurological deficits. Here, we report a 29 year-old male patient with brucellosis causing spondylodiskitis and spinal epidural abscess resulting in neurological deficits such as paresis. Surgical therapy is the main approach in the treatment of the abscess. However, the patient...

background & importance: infections of the craniocervical junction are rare. case presentation: we present a case of infection by methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus mitis that was not previously reported. conclusion: neurosurgeons must suspect for diagnosis and initiate broad antimicrobial therapy, including active agents against gram-negative and then initiate a targ...

Spinal epidural abscesses are an uncommon cause of spinal cord injury but, depending on the size and presence of neurological deficits, urgent neurosurgical intervention may be required. We present a unique case of a patient presenting with a spinal epidural collection several days after a fall. While a spinal epidural hematoma was suspected based on the patient's history and MRI findings, a sp...

Spinal epidural abscess is rare but serious medical condition which may cause permanent neurological deficits, or even death, if not treated. Staphylococcus aureus is the responsible microorganism in most spinal abscess cases. However, rarely other microorganisms like Brucella may be responsible. Brucellosis, a zoonotic infection endemic in the Mediterranean Region, Middle East; and South and C...

INTRODUCTION Spinal Epidural abscess (SEA) is an uncommon pathology that needs an urgent intervention to decompress the pressure on the spinal epidural sac, cord, and roots. The authors report a rare case of a young adult with lumbar spinal epidural tuberculous abscess occupying the spinal canal from L2-L5 vertebrae with extesion to the posterior paraspinal muscles and presenting with bilateral...

BACKGROUND Spinal subdural abscesses, also known as empyemas, are rare infectious lesions, the exact incidence of which is unknown. Presentation is typically dramatic, with back pain, fever, motor, and sensory deficits. Rapid identification and surgical intervention with laminectomy, durotomy, and washout provides the best outcomes. While hematogenous spread of an extra-spinal infection is the ...

Despite advances in neuroimaging and neurosurgical treatment modalities, spinal epidural abscess remains a challenging problem. Early diagnosis is often difficult and treatment is always delayed. Spinal epidural abscess usually develops in patients with predisposing factors such as IV drug abuse, senillity, diabetes mellitus, spinal attempts, alcoholism, immunosuppression, liver diseases and ca...