title: Anaerobic meningitis secondary to a rectothecal fistula arising from an anterior sacral meningocele: report of a case and review of the literature.
abstract: An anterior sacral meningocele is a diverticulum of the thecal sac protruding anteriorly from the sacral spinal canal into the extraperitoneal presacral space. It is a rare congenital anomaly comprising of a thin wall of fibrous connective tissue, and containing cerebrospinal fluid and, occasionally, adjacent nerve fibers. We report an unusual case of a 48-year-old male who presented with meningitis secondary to a rectothecal fistula arising from an anterior sacral meningocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Northern General Hospital, 98 Sackville Road, Crookes, Sheffield, United Kingdom. J.Phillips@sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: Joshua T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shorthouse
mesh_terms: D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000209:etiology*; D008588:Meningocele; D008875:Middle Aged; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D012447:Sacrum / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000002:abnormalities*