Case report (precis): Atypical delayed presentation of cervical spinal epidural abscess

Older patients with spinal epidural abscesses (SEA) may present in an atypical fashion, failing to exhibit the classical triad of pain, fever, and a neurological deficit. Rather, they may be less aware of pain, fail to develop a fever, and attribute their neurological deficit to "old age." Further, their laboratory studies may not be abnormal, and critical findings on MR (i.e., more so than CT studies) may be overlooked. Here, we present an elderly patient with severe upper extremity monoparesis whose cervical SEA was overlooked for months.

Over 10 months, and 6 months ago respectively, the patient had two successive MR scans ordered due to falls; both were interpreted as normal. Within the past few months, a third cervical MR, and an initial CT scan were performed; they both showed "questionable" changes (e.g. cortical irregularity/epidural air) that were largely ignored. When the patient presented to a spine surgeon with severe upper extremity monoparesis, the fourth MR clearly demonstrated a high cervical SEA. Of interest, laboratory findings were normal (e.g. white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)). The patient successfully underwent an anterior cervical discectomy/and fusion (ACDF); cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus, and he was appropriately managed with intravenous antibiotic therapy.

This case report (precis) highlights three "teaching" points. First, elderly immunologically compromised patients may not develop the classical SEA triad of pain, fever, and a neurological deficit. Second, laboratory studies may remain normal. Third, it may take longer for abnormal findings to develop on MR/CT studies consistent with SEA in immunocompromised older patients, thus resulting in very delayed surgery.