Keita Koyama1,2, Yasuchika Aoki3,4, Masahiro Inoue1,5, Go Kubota1,6, Atsuya Watanabe1,5, Takayuki Nakajima1,5, Yusuke Sato1,5, Arata Nakajima2, Masato Sonobe2, Hiroshi Takahashi7, Junya Saito2, Masaki Norimoto2, Seiji Ohtori8, Koichi Nakagawa2. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Eastern Chiba Medical Center, Togane, Japan. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Toho University Sakura Medical Center, Sakura, Japan. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Eastern Chiba Medical Center, Togane, Japan. yasuaoki35@fc4.so-net.ne.jp. 4. Department of General Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. yasuaoki35@fc4.so-net.ne.jp. 5. Department of General Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. 6. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sawara Prefectural Hospital, Katori, Japan. 7. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. 8. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Holospinal epidural abscess (HEA) extending from the cervical to the lumbosacral spine is an extremely rare condition. Surgical treatment of HEA, which involves extensive decompression of the spinal lesion is difficult in emergency settings. However, the authors successfully treated a case of HEA in critical condition with severe neurological deficits through a combination of skip decompression surgeries and catheter irrigation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old man complained of neck and back pain and developed muscle weakness in the upper and lower extremities (C5 AIS D tetraplegia). When he was transferred to our hospital, a marked increase in leukocytes (13330/μL) and C-reactive protein levels (32.11 mg/dL) was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a HEA extending from C1 to S2 levels. Therefore, an emergency posterior decompression on C4-5 and T4-7 was performed, followed by catheter irrigation using a venous catheter. Blood and intraoperative isolated microorganisms were identified as Streptococcus intermedius, which is a rare cause of spinal infection. He experienced marked improvement in pain after surgery. Two months after surgery, the epidural abscess completely disappeared. Motor weakness gradually improved, and he was able to walk without support and showed no pain recurrence during the final follow-up (20 months after surgery). DISCUSSION: Early diagnosis is important for the treatment of HEAs. Therefore, a whole spine MRI is recommended when an extensive spinal epidural abscess is suspected. Decompression surgery at limited spine levels followed by catheter irrigation should be considered in patients with HEA.
INTRODUCTION: Holospinal epidural abscess (HEA) extending from the cervical to the lumbosacral spine is an extremely rare condition. Surgical treatment of HEA, which involves extensive decompression of the spinal lesion is difficult in emergency settings. However, the authors successfully treated a case of HEA in critical condition with severe neurological deficits through a combination of skip decompression surgeries and catheter irrigation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old man complained of neck and back pain and developed muscle weakness in the upper and lower extremities (C5 AIS D tetraplegia). When he was transferred to our hospital, a marked increase in leukocytes (13330/μL) and C-reactive protein levels (32.11 mg/dL) was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a HEA extending from C1 to S2 levels. Therefore, an emergency posterior decompression on C4-5 and T4-7 was performed, followed by catheter irrigation using a venous catheter. Blood and intraoperative isolated microorganisms were identified as Streptococcus intermedius, which is a rare cause of spinal infection. He experienced marked improvement in pain after surgery. Two months after surgery, the epidural abscess completely disappeared. Motor weakness gradually improved, and he was able to walk without support and showed no pain recurrence during the final follow-up (20 months after surgery). DISCUSSION: Early diagnosis is important for the treatment of HEAs. Therefore, a whole spine MRI is recommended when an extensive spinal epidural abscess is suspected. Decompression surgery at limited spine levels followed by catheter irrigation should be considered in patients with HEA.
Authors: M Fantoni; E M Trecarichi; B Rossi; V Mazzotta; G Di Giacomo; L A Nasto; E Di Meco; E Pola Journal: Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 3.507