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Intramedullary spinal cord abscess.

B S Koppel1, M Daras, K R Duffy

  • 1Department of Neurology, New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital, New York.

Neurosurgery
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
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Intravenous drug use can lead to rare spinal cord infections. This case highlights a Pseudomonas cepacia intramedullary abscess causing tetraplegia, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis in at-risk patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Intravenous drug abuse (IVDA) is associated with various infections, but primary spinal cord infections are uncommon.
  • Bacterial epidural infections and viral myelitis are more frequently observed in IVDA populations.

Observation:

  • A 50-year-old active intravenous drug user presented with tetraplegia.
  • The patient was diagnosed with an intramedullary abscess of the spinal cord.

Findings:

  • The abscess was caused by Pseudomonas cepacia, a rare pathogen in this context.
  • Neurosurgical drainage and antibiotic therapy did not result in clinical improvement.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion for spinal cord pathology in IVDA patients presenting with neurological deficits.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial for potentially improving outcomes in rare spinal cord infections.
  • Pseudomonas cepacia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal infections in intravenous drug users.