title: Spinal epidural abscess following glossectomy and neck dissection: A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon but potentially life threatening entity that rarely occurs after otolaryngology procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a diabetic patient who presented with a lumbar spinal epidural abscess eight days after head and neck oncologic surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an L4 spinal epidural abscess. Cultures from the spinal epidural abscess, blood, urine, and the previous neck incision grew Klebsiella pneumoniae. The patient recovered neurologic function after surgical decompression and drainage, long-term intravenous antibiotics, and physical therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of postoperative spinal epidural abscess is rare after otolaryngology procedures but has been reported in the cervical epidural space. To our knowledge, lumbar spinal epidural abscess has not yet been reported after head and neck oncologic surgery. Even more unique is the presence of the pathogen K. pneumoniae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high index of suspicion of this potential outcome is paramount as early recognition and intervention are keys to recovery of neurologic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, United States. Electronic address: Esther.Cheng@luhs.org.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, United States.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, United States.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borrowdale
keywords: Glossectomy; Klebsiella pneumonia; Neck dissection; Spinal epidural abscess