Neonatal Escherichia coli meningitis: spinal adhesions as a late complication.

We describe two boys who had severe spinal complications in adolescence after a favorable initial recovery from neonatal Escherichia coli meningitis. Due to spinal granulomatous adhesions, one boy died after an attempted scoliosis operation (high cord lesion). The other showed severe progressive neurological deterioration with spinal and cerebellar symptoms. Conclusion The severe complication of chronic arachnoiditis with spinal adhesion may occur many years after neonatal acute bacterial meningitis.