摘要
A 61 years old man with fatty liver disease and history of recent urinary infection was admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine for severe back pain and fever. The blood culture exams were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and later the cervical spine MRI showed an anterior epidural abscess associated with medullary compression. The patient was kept under antibiotic therapy and a decompressive surgery was required. Spinal epidural abscess presentation can be subtle with its presenting complaints ranging in severity from nonspecific back pain to marked weakness. This case report highlights the importance of an early diagnosis in order to avoid a devastating outcome.
A 61 years old man with fatty liver disease and history of recent urinary infection was admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine for severe back pain and fever. The blood culture exams were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and later the cervical spine MRI showed an anterior epidural abscess associated with medullary compression. The patient was kept under antibiotic therapy and a decompressive surgery was required. Spinal epidural abscess presentation can be subtle with its presenting complaints ranging in severity from nonspecific back pain to marked weakness. This case report highlights the importance of an early diagnosis in order to avoid a devastating outcome.
