title: Delayed Presentation of a Cervical Spinal Epidural Abscess of Dental Origin after a Fall in an Elderly Patient.
abstract: Spinal epidural abscesses are an uncommon cause of spinal cord injury but, depending on the size and presence of neurological deficits, urgent neurosurgical intervention may be required. We present a unique case of a patient presenting with a spinal epidural collection several days after a fall. While a spinal epidural hematoma was suspected based on the patient's history and MRI findings, a spinal epidural abscess was found during surgery. The patient underwent laminectomy and instrumented fusion with successful treatment of her infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
authors.forename: Alexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riordan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
authors.forename: Lawrence S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chin
keywords: delayed epidural hematoma; mid-cervical spinal cord injury; spinal epidural abscess