An extensive spinal epidural abscess successfully treated conservatively
- 1University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- 2University of Antwerp, Department of Neurosurgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- 3University of Antwerp, Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
- 4St Vincentius Hospital, Department of Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
- Dr M Plazier, University Hospital Antwerp, Department of Neurosurgery, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium; mark.plazier{at}uza.be
- Received 27 February 2008
- Revised 8 June 2008
- Accepted 24 June 2008
Abstract
A spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is an uncommon condition, appearing in 0.2–2 cases per 10 000 hospital admissions. Urgent surgical decompression in combination with long term antibiotics is the common treatment of choice for SEA. However, in some cases, a non-surgical treatment can also be considered. In this case report, a patient is presented with SEA extending from C2 to L3 which was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy without surgical intervention.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None.
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Patient consent: Obtained.
