title: Panspinal epidural abscess concomitant with meningitis.
abstract: Panspinal epidural abscess is an extremely rare condition that can potentially lead to major permanent neurological deficits if treatment is delayed or suboptimal. Most patients with spinal epidural abscess have a short segment of vertebrae involved and classically present with fever, low back pain, and focal neurologic deficit. In severe cases, meningitis and septic shock may occur and lead to death. Therefore, the condition requires prompt recognition and proper intervention. Herein, we report the case of a 41-year-old diabetic man who presented at our hospital with the symptoms of headache, quadriplegia with respiratory distress and low back pain. Panspinal epidural abscess and meningitis were diagnosed by carrying out detailed neurologic examinations and neuroimaging studies, which expedited the correct diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Sou
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hung-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Chun-An
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011859:Radiography; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae