Spinal epidural abscess as a rare cause of acute paraplegia in adults, with a review of literature

Spinal epidural abscess has an incidence of approximately one to two cases per 10,000 hospital-admissions.In spite of the advances in Neuroimaging and Neurosurgical care, the incidence of the condition, especially with an unfavourable outcome like paraplegia, is on the rise.Only increased awareness, early diagnosis and swift management would improve the chances of good prognosis in such patients.Some of the patients may present clinically with a sole back pain.MRI is the choice of imaging study, which reveals spinal epidural abscess accurately and clearly.Surgical decompression and drainage of the epidural abscess combined with specific antibiotics is the treatment of choice.Here we are discussing the clinical presentation, management and follow up of a middle aged, diabetic, male patient diagnosed to have a typical spinal epidural abscess leading to paraplegia, treated promptly to have a successful outcome.