SPINAL EPIDURAL ABSCESS. CASE REPORT. HOSPITAL SANTO TOMAS, PANAMA

Abstract

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare infection affecting central nervous system that causes severe neurologic symptoms leading to important neurological function aftermath if not treated appropriately. The clinical presentation is nonspecific, the lumbar pain, fever and neurological deficit triad is key to the diagnosis but the symptoms appear at different times in most cases. Magnetic resonance with gadolinium contrast is the gold standard imaging study for the diagnosis. Microbiological diagnosis is made by drainage and culture of spinal mass. Management consists of surgery, antibiotic therapy and radiological monitoring.

We present the case of a 68 years old male with symmetric ascending paresis, oliguria, later associated to urinary and fecal incontinence, fever and lumbar tenderness which was diagnosed as spinal epidural abscess.