Epidural abcessess can involve the intercranial or spinal compartments and can result in potentially devastating neurological injuries. Although rare, incidence of spinal epidural abscesses (SEAs) is increasing as predisposing factors such as injected-drug use, chronic immunosuppression, and spinal surgery become more common. Whereas symptoms of SEAs can include fever, back pain, and neurological dysfunction, the presentation of intracranial epidural abscesses (ICEAs) is less well defined. Neuroimaging narrows the potential diagnoses and enables prompt empirical therapy until specific microbiological diagnosis is made. Surgical intervention is an integral part of treatment for epidural abscesses in patients with neurological symptoms or who have not responded to medical management. Prognosis for both SEAs and ICEAs is typically poor because of delayed diagnosis and intervention and is dependent on the neurological status at the time of diagnosis. Increased clinical awareness can greatly improve outcomes by helping to diagnose patients earlier.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70044-4 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Dural perforation and life-threatening central nervous system complications associated with septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joint: illustrative case.
J Neurosurg Case Lessons
January 2025
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa-gun, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
Background: Septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joint (SALFJ) is a rare condition that can lead to serious complications. The authors present an uncommon case in which SALFJ resulted in bacterial meningitis (BM) with hydrocephalus and pyogenic ventriculitis, causing a disturbance of consciousness. Reports describing perforation of the dura mater by an epidural abscess are rare, and the present case offers valuable insights into the management of complex and severe complications arising from SALFJ.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRisk Factors Preventing Identification of the Microorganism Causing Vertebral Osteomyelitis.
Global Spine J
January 2025
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Study Design: Retrospective study.
Objective: To elucidate the factors influencing the identification of causative microorganisms in vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) and the effectiveness of different culture methods in increasing the identification rate.
Methods: A total of 252 patients diagnosed with and treated for VO at a single hospital were enrolled.
Abscess and aneurysm: A case of tuberculous abscess causing an aortic pseudo-aneurysm.
Radiol Case Rep
March 2025
Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysms are a rare but serious complication of infectious processes, often resulting from mycotic (infectious) aneurysms, occurring when the vessel wall is compromised by an infection, leading to the formation of a pseudoaneurysm [1]. Mycotic aneurysms typically result from bacteremia or fungemia, with common sources being infective endocarditis or other systemic infections. Tuberculosis, though a common infectious disease worldwide, is an unusual cause of aortic pseudoaneurysm formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssociation of malnutrition with surgical outcomes after spine surgery for spinal epidural abscess.
Clin Neurol Neurosurg
January 2025
Department of Neurosurgery, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States.
Background: Malnutrition is a predictor of poor surgical outcomes, but its specific effects in spinal epidural abscess (SEA) are understudied. This study aims to assess the association between nutritional status and post-operative outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2011-2022 American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to identify adult SEA patients who underwent spinal surgery.
Should dry spinal tuberculosis be managed differently than wet spinal tuberculosis?
Spine J
January 2025
Seth G. S. Medical College and K. E. M. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Department of Orthopaedics.
Background Context: On radiopathological examination of spinal tuberculosis (TB), two predominant forms are known: dry and wet types. Wet TB, as the name suggests, has abscess formation as its predominant presenting feature and is the exudative form; dry TB includes caseation and sequestration with minimal exudate. Dry TB often exhibits poorer recovery patterns than the wet counterparts, which can be possibly ascribed to vasculitis, ischemia, or tubercular myelitis, rather than isolated mechanical compression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!