Spinal cord disorder due to spinal epidural abscess secondary to thoracic facet joint septic arthritis-a rare case with a surprising evolution.

Spinal Cord Series and Cases
Teresa Plancha da SilvaFátima Carvalho

Abstract

Septic arthritis of a facet joint (SAFJ) is a relatively rare medical entity and the lumbar segment is its most frequent location. Although unusual, a spinal epidural abscess (SEA) can occur as a complication of SAFJ and possibly damage the spinal cord. A 53-year-old woman presented with acute right dorsal pain, fever, loss of sphincters control, and paraparesis without causal factor. Forty-eight hours after the symptoms started, imaging revealed a thoracic posterior epidural collection causing compression of the spinal cord and features suggestive of septic arthritis of right T5-T6 facet joint. She underwent an urgent laminectomy and drainage of the abscess. Both blood and abscess cultures isolated Staphylococcus aureus. A diagnosis of complete paraplegia grade A of the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) Impairment Scale (AIS) with neurologic level T10 was made 5 days after surgery. She took 3 months of an intensive rehabilitation program at our Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine ward. With an unexpected favorable evolution, both neurological and functional, she was discharged with an incomplete paraplegia AIS D and functionally independent in all tasks. This case reveals an infrequent medical condition on a rarely af...Continue Reading

References

Apr 18, 2006·Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism·Javier NarváezJavier Ariza
Jun 1, 2007·Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques·Minoru DoitaMasahiro Kurosaka
Nov 6, 2007·QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians·P SendiW Zimmerli
May 30, 2009·Spine·Jaume Mas-AtanceJosé-Juan Fernández-Martínez
Sep 7, 2013·The Neuroradiology Journal·K Rosc-BerezaM Boczarska-Jedynak
Mar 25, 2014·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Giorgio ScivolettoMarco Molinari
Aug 30, 2019·European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology : Orthopédie Traumatologie·Bruno Lopes CorreiaRicardo Rodrigues-Pinto
Jan 25, 2020·Case Reports in Orthopedics·Tomoyuki Setoue, Jun-Ichiro Nakamura

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
R R KuitersR E Hekster
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
Joseph YoonMichael J Redmond
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved