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ACUTE OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE SPINE WITH PARAPLEGIA
Author(s) -
DAVID C. V.,
BALASUBRAMANIAM P.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1981.tb05251.x
Subject(s) - medicine , epidural abscess , paraplegia , abscess , osteomyelitis , cauda equina , surgery , epidural space , anterior longitudinal ligament , cauda equina syndrome , decompression , lumbar , lesion , lumbar spine , vertebra , spinal cord , cervical spine , psychiatry
A case is reported of acute osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine presenting with a psoas abscess which extended into the epidural space mimicking an epidural abscess. The patient also had severe septicaemia and a complete cauda equina lesion. The septicaemia was controlled by draining the abscess by an anterior approach to the lumbar spine. Decompression of the cord was achieved by removing the sequestrated discs, the necrotic body of the fourth lumbar vertebra and draining the epidural abscess by opening the posterior longitudinal ligament.