Abstract
Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) remains a relatively infrequent diagnosis. Staphylococcus aureus is the most com- mon organism identified, and the infectious source in SEA emanates from skin and soft tissue infections in about 20 % of instances. The thoracic spine is most often involved followed bythelumbar spine.The classic triad offever, spinalpain, and neurological deficit is present in but a minority of patients. The appearance of neurological deficits with SEA has a sig- nificant impact on the prognosis; therefore, early diagnosis is imperative. Magnetic resonance imaging has permitted earlier diagnosis, although significant delays in diagnosis are com- mon due to the nonspecific symptoms that frequently attend the disorder. Due to the rarity of this condition, there have been few randomized controlled trials to evaluate new treat- ment strategies, and most recommendations regarding treat- ment are based on case series studies often derived from the experiences at a single center.
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