Lumbar facet joint infection associated with epidural and paraspinal abscess.

A case of lumbar facet joint infection associated with abscesses of the paraspinal muscles and the epidural space is presented. The infection did not respond to intravenous antibiotic therapy and resolved only after incision and drainage of the epidural space, involved facet joint, and paraspinal musculature. Magnetic resonance imaging, which showed a widened facet joint, epidural abscess, and paraspinal involvement, aided in diagnosis and preoperative planning. This condition is rare, and this report outlines some clinical characteristics of the infection and the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in visualizing the extent of the infection.