Spinal epidural abscess associated with moxibustion-related infection of the finger.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a spinal epidural abscess that originated from cellulitis after moxibustion.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
A 78-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus was diagnosed with tetraplegia due to a cervical spinal epidural abscess extending to the thoracic spinal epidural space. The abscess was caused by osteomyelitis and cellulitis of the right third finger, which had been cauterized repeatedly with moxa. After surgical decompression and drainage of the spinal epidural abscess and comprehensive rehabilitation, motor strength and functional level improved.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the risk of spinal epidural abscess in persons with diabetes mellitus who present with focal cellulitis and osteomyelitis.
Lee
Kyung Whan
KW
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha [corrected] Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Han
Soo Jeong
SJ
Kim
Dong Jun
DJ
Lee
Mee jin
Mj
D000368:Aged; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009071:Moxibustion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
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