Spinal epidural abscess: a rapidly progressive disease

Abstract

We report a case of spinal epidural abscess in a 42-year-old diabetic. The patient first presented with four days of low back pain with radicular symptoms following exertion. When he returned five days later with overt symptoms and signs of spinal cord compression, an epidural mass was diagnosed by myelogram and computed tomography scan. Following drainage of a large posterior epidural abscess, the patient was left with residual weakness requiring ongoing physical therapy.