Rapidly progressive lumbar subdural empyema following acromial bursal injection.

Spinal subdural empyemas are rare. We describe a 53-year-old male who presented with back pain, mental status changes, and sepsis. Five days prior he had undergone a triamcinolone and lidocaine injection of the acromial bursa. He also had a remote history of epidural steroid injection for thoracic back pain. Two lumbar MRI conducted 62 hours apart revealed a newly developed subdural empyema that was successfully treated with surgical evacuation and post-operative antibiotics.