title: Postoperative spinal epidural empyema. Clinical and computed tomography features.
abstract: Epidural empyema is a rare complication of elective spinal surgery. Four such cases are described. The clinical features of this postoperative complication were surprisingly vague and misleading. Fever was uncommon. Local inflammatory signs or rapid neurologic deterioration were absent. Computerized tomography proved useful in diagnosis and follow-up. Unlike spontaneous spinal epidural abscess, postoperative spinal epidural empyema had a benign course. Causative bacteria were miscellaneous. Surgical evacuation of the purulent collection and appropriate antibiotic therapy resulted in cure in all cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spiegelmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Findler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faibel
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shacked
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004653:Empyema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004824:Epidural Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed