title: Papilledema as a manifestation of a spinal subdural abscess.
abstract: Papilledema is an uncommon presentation of spinal cord processes. Spinal subdural abscess (SSA) is a rare site of post-operative infection. We report a patient who developed papilledema as the primary manifestation of a post-operative lumbar subdural abscess. A spinal abscess should be considered in the post-operative spinal surgery patient who develops papilledema in the setting of persistent back pain. The increased intracranial pressure associated with lumbar spinal cord abscess most likely results from a markedly elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein or the disruption of CSF flow in the spinal cul-de-sac.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States. melissa.wang@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Melissa W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Sungmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Dina A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcotte
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Galetta
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001099:Arachnoid / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001100:Arachnoiditis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010211:Papilledema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013355:Subdural Space / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents