title: Epidural abscess causing tetraparesis: case report.
abstract: A case is presented of a 26-year-old male with a 8-day history of fever and back pain, and limb weakness beginning 24 hours before admission. An abscess caused by a staphylococcus aureus was localised in the thoracic paravertebral region with penetration in the subarachnoidal space at T1. Myelography appeared to be superior to CAT-scan and NMRI of the cervico-thoracal region in supporting the diagnosis. Treatment by laminectomy of C7-T3 48 hours after admission did not lead to neurological improvement and an incomplete tetraplegia persisted. The importance and difficulty of early diagnosis is stressed.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D004824:Epidural Space; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009192:Myelography; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013115:Spinal Canal; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed