Turkish Neurosurgery 2001 , Vol 11 , Num 3-4
ACUTE EPIDURAL ABSCESS OF THE CERVICAL SPINE CAUSED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS: REPORT OF TWO CASES
Nurullah YÜCEER, M. Nuri ARDA
Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, İzmir This report describes two cases of spinal epidural abscess. At presentation, both patients complained of cervical pain and weakness in the arms and legs. Their neurological examinations revealed quadriplegia and tetraparesis, respectively. In both cases, the definitive diagnosis was established preoperatively with magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical treatment in both patients involved laminectomy through a posterim approach for abscess drainage. In both cases, the causative microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus. The patients received an 8-week course of intravenous vancomycin treatment, and both were followed postoperatively with monthly magnetic resonance imaging scans. Their neurological examinations were normal at 6 months postsurgery. Keywords : Spinal epidural abscess, infection, incidence, magnetic resonance imaging, therapy
Corresponding author : M. Nuri Arda