Skip hemilaminectomy for the treatment of holospinal epidural abscess: A single-center experience
Alessandro Di Rienzo1, Riccardo Paracino1, Valentina Liverotti1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Background:
Holospinal epidural abscesses (HEAs) are rare with potentially devastating consequences. Urgent bony decompression and abscess evacuation with long-term antibiotic therapy are typically the treatment of choice.
Methods:
We reviewed cases of holospinal HEAs operated on between 2009 and 2018. Variables studied included preoperative laboratories, CT/MR studies plus clinical and radiographic follow-up for between 34 and 60 postoperative months.
Results:
We utilized skip hemilaminectomies to minimize the risks of segmental instability. Targeted antibiotic therapy was also started immediately and maintained for 6 postoperative weeks. MR/CT studies documented full radiographic and neurological recovery between 6 and 12-months later.
Conclusion:
HEAs may be treated utilizing multilevel skip hemilaminectomies to help maintain spinal stability while offering adequate abscess decompression/resolution.
