STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: We report a rare case of extensive spinal epidural abscess in a patient with diabetes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal epidural abscess is a very uncommon infection that requires prompt recognition and proper management to avoid potentially disastrous complications. This lesion can expand to compress the spinal cord causing severe symptoms and complications. METHODS: Combination of the patient clinical history, physical examination, laboratory results, radiologic and intraoperative findings along with brief related literature review. RESULTS: We present a rare case of spinal epidural abscess extending to the entire length of the spinal cord in a previously undiagnosed patient with diabetes. CONCLUSION: Diabetes is an important condition that can predispose an individual to the development of localized or extensive spinal epidural abscess.
STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: We report a rare case of extensive spinal epidural abscess in a patient with diabetes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal epidural abscess is a very uncommon infection that requires prompt recognition and proper management to avoid potentially disastrous complications. This lesion can expand to compress the spinal cord causing severe symptoms and complications. METHODS: Combination of the patient clinical history, physical examination, laboratory results, radiologic and intraoperative findings along with brief related literature review. RESULTS: We present a rare case of spinal epidural abscess extending to the entire length of the spinal cord in a previously undiagnosed patient with diabetes. CONCLUSION:Diabetes is an important condition that can predispose an individual to the development of localized or extensive spinal epidural abscess.