• Malobika Bhattacharya and Neha Joshi.
• Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, India. drmalvikab@gmail.com
• J Spinal Cord Med. 2011 Jan 1;34(3):340-3.

BackgroundSpinal epidural abscess (SEA) in children is a rare infectious emergency warranting prompt intervention. Predisposing factors include immunosuppression, spinal procedures, and local site infections such as vertebral osteomyelitis and paraspinal abscess. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common isolate.DesignCase report and literature review.FindingsA 2.5-year-old boy with tetraparesis was found to have an SEA in the posterior lumbar epidural space with evidence of meningitis and myelitis on MRI spine in the absence of any local or systemic predisposing factors or spinal procedures. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the evacuated pus.ConclusionsDefinitive treatment of SEA is a combination of surgical decompression and iv antibiotics. Timely management limits the extent of neurological deficit.

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