[Cervical epidural abscess following lumbar epidural steroid injections].

A 49-year-old female with diabetes and chronic low back pain was treated with computed tomography-guided injections after years of unsuccessful pain management. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with disk herniation, facet joint degeneration, and instability of the presacral segment. Following epidural steroid injection, local infection and sepsis occurred and, finally, tetraparesis developed. A cervical epidural abscess was demonstrated on follow-up MRI and evacuation was performed. The patient survived severely handicapped. Legal proceedings were initiated against the radiologists. They were accused of causing damage to the patient. The plaint was defeated with special reference to the report and expertise of the neuroradiologic evidence.