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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Intramedullary spinal cord abscess complicating thoracic spondylodiscitis caused by Bacteroides fragilis
Michel D Crema1, Clement Pradel, Monica D Marra
1Service de Radiologie, Faculté de Médecine Saint-Antoine, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75571 Paris Cedex 12, France. michelcrema@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Intramedullary spinal cord abscess associated with infectious spondylodiscitis is a rare entity. The case of a 66-year-old man with an intramedullary spinal cord abscess complicating thoracic spondylodiscitis is presented. The patient was unable to ambulate independently due to weakness of the legs. MR imaging showed findings suggestive of infectious spondylodiscitis at the T5-T6 level associated with epidural and intramedullary spinal cord abscesses. Biopsy of the intervertebral disc was performed and Bacteroides fragilis was isolated. Antibiotic therapy was instituted, and MR imaging of the thoracic spine was performed 6 weeks after the initiation of treatment, showing resolution of the epidural and intramedullary spinal cord abscesses.
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