Infecciones piógenas de la columna vertebral / Pyogenic spinal infections

Las infecciones espinales son cuadros clínicos poco frecuentes, que exigen un alto índice de sospecha. La prevalencia de infecciones piógenas de la columna ha ido en aumento, en parte debido al envejecimiento de la población y a un mayor número de pacientes inmunocomprometidos. El estudio imagenológico se puede iniciar con radiografías simples, pero la resonancia magnética es el examen imagenológico de elección, ya que puede dar resultados positivos de forma precoz, entregando información más detallada del compromiso vertebral y tejidos blandos adyacentes. Aunque la clínica y los hallazgos imagenológicos nos pueden orientar, es importante intentar un diagnóstico microbiológico tomando cultivos y muestras para identificar al agente causal antes de iniciar los antibióticos; aunque es óptimo un tratamiento agente-específico, hasta un 25% de los casos queda sin diagnóstico del agente. El tratamiento es inicialmente médico, con antibióticos e inmovilización, pero se debe considerar la cirugía en casos de compromiso neurológico, deformidad progresiva, inestabilidad, sepsis no controlada o dolor intratable. El manejo quirúrgico actual consiste en el aseo y estabilización precoz de los segmentos vertebrales comprometidos. Descartar una endocarditis concomitante y el examen neurológico seriado son parte del manejo de estos pacientes.

Spinal infections are unusual conditions requiring a high index of suspicion for clinical diagnosis. There has been a global increase in the number of pyogenic spinal infections due to an aging population and a higher proportion of immunocompromised patients. The imaging study should start with plain radiographs, but magnetic resonance imaging (mri) is the gold standard for diagnosis. Mri can detect bone and disc changes earlier than other methods, and it provides detailed information on bone and adjacent soft tissues. Blood cultures and local samples for culture and pathology should be obtained, trying to identify the pathogen. According to the result, the most appropriate drug must be selected depending on susceptibility and penetration into spinal tissues. Treatment should start with antibiotics and immobilization; surgery should be considered in cases with neurological impairment, progressive deformity, spine instability, sepsis, or non-controlled pain. Current surgical treatment includes debridement and early stabilization. Practitioners should rule out endocarditis and perform a serial neurological examination managing these patients.

Absceso epidural espinal: caso clínico pediátrico / Pediatric case report: Spinal epidural abscess

El absceso epidural espinal, una patología poco frecuente, presenta una incidencia de un caso cada 100 000 individuos, y se observa un aumento debido al incremento de factores de riesgo, tales como diabetes mellitus, anomalías espinales, tatuajes, acupuntura, analgesia epidural, sumado a una mayor disponibilidad de métodos de imágenes. Es una colección purulenta localizada entre la duramadre y el canal medular. Los gérmenes más comunes son Staphylococcus aureus y bacterias Gram-negativas. Sin tratamiento oportuno, evoluciona a la compresión medular y secuelas neurológicas permanentes. Una niña de 11 años se presentó con fiebre de 48 horas de evolución, dolor lumbar izquierdo, marcha antálgica con envaramiento lumbar. El examen neurológico era normal. Sobre los miembros inferiores, se observaban lesiones ampollares destechadas. La resonancia nuclear magnética mostró una imagen compatible con absceso epidural espinal. Evolucionó favorablemente. El tratamiento consistió en drenaje quirúrgico y antibióticos por 6 semanas. Del cultivo del material obtenido, creció Staphylococcus aureus meticilino sensible.

Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon pathology. It has an incidence of one case per 100 000 individuals. An increase is observed due to the raise of risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, spinal abnormalities, tattoos, acupuncture, epidural analgesia, and a greater availability of imaging methods. It is a purulent collection located between the dura and the medullary canal. The most common germs are Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria. Without timely treatment, it evolves to medullary compression and permanent neurological sequelae. An 11-year-old girl was admitted with fever of 48 hs evolution, left lower back pain, antalgic gait with lumbar stiffness. Neurological examination was normal. Blunt blistering lesions were observed on lower limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an image compatible with spinal epidural abscess. The evolutionwas favorable. Treatment consisted of surgical drainage and antibiotics for 6 weeks. From the culture of the material obtained, methidllin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was isolated.

Diagnóstico diferencial de hernia discal / Diagnostic differences for disc herniation

Disc herniation is a frequent pathology in the radiologist's daily practice. There are different pathologies that can simulate a herniated disc from the clinical and especially the imaging point of view that we should consider whenever we report a herniated disc. These lesions may originate from the vertebral body (osteophytes and metastases), the intervertebral disc (discal cyst), the intervertebral foramina (neurinomas), the interapophyseal joints (synovial cyst) and from the epidural space (hematoma and epidural abscess).

La hernia discal es una patología frecuente en la práctica diaria del radiólogo. Hay distintas patologías que pueden simular una hernia discal desde el punto de vista clínico y especialmente imagenológico que debemos considerar cada vez que informamos una hernia discal. Estas lesiones pueden provenir del cuerpo vertebral (osteofitos y metástasis), del disco intervertebral (quiste discal), de los forámenes intervertebrales (neurinomas), de las articulaciones interapofisiarias (quiste sinovial) y desde el espacio epidural (hematoma y absceso epidural).

Abscesso espinhal epidural por disseminação hematogênica: relato de caso / Spinal Epidural Abscess by Hematogenous Spread: Case Report

Abscesso espinhal epidural é uma doença rara de diagnóstico difícil, sendo que o principal fator prognóstico é o diagnóstico breve. A maioria dos pacientes, porém, tem o diagnóstico tardio, quando já existem sintomas neurológicos que podem permanecer após o tratamento. Na maioria dos casos, os sintomas iniciais são dor nas costas, febre e paralisia. O tratamento é feito à base de antibioticoterapia empírica e, caso não haja contraindicação, descompressão e drenagem cirúrgica. Relata-se o caso de uma paciente que sofreu paralisia súbita nos membros inferiores. Inicialmente, havia suspeita de mielite transversa, mas a evolução do caso permitiu o diagnóstico de abscesso espinhal epidural emT6, T7 e T8, causada por disseminação hematogênica de Staphylococcus aureus.

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare and difficult disease to diagnose, and the main prognostic factor is the early diagnosis. Most patients, however, have their diagnosis delayed to when they already have neurological symptoms that may remain after treatment. In most cases, the initial symptoms are back pain, fever and paralysis. Treatment is based on empirical antibiotic therapy and, if there is no contraindication, decompression and surgical drainage. We report the case of a patient who suffered sudden paralysis of the inferior members. Initially suspected as transversemyelitis, the case evolved, allowing the diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess in T6, T7 and T8, caused by hematogenous spread of Staphylococcus aureus.

Empiema epidural espinal: clínica, diagnóstico y tratamiento a propósito de tres casos / Spinal epidural empyema: clinical, diagnosis and treatment with regard to three cases

El empiema epidural espinal (EEE) es una infección supurada del sistema nervioso central, predomina en el sexo masculino y en la edad media de la vida. El microorganismo mayormente implicado es Staphylococcus aureus. Alcanza el espacio epidural por contigüidad, inoculación directa o diseminación a distancia. Se manifiesta con fiebre, dolor espinal y déficit neurológico. Se presentan tres casos de EEE y se realizan consideraciones clínicas, microbiológicas y terapéuticas.

Abstract Spinal epidural empyema is a suppurating infection of the central nervous system, more frequent in male patients and during the midlife stage. Staphylococcus aureus is the most commonly found microorganism. It reaches the epidural space extending contiguously, by direct inoculation or distant spread. It manifests with fever, spinal pain and neurological deficit. Three cases of spinal epidural empyema are presented and clinical, microbiological and therapeutic considerations are made.

Resumo O empiema epidural espinal (EEE) é uma infecção supurada do sistema nervoso central, predominante no sexo masculino e na meia idade. O micro-organismo implicado na maioria dos casos é o Staphylococcus aureus. Atinge o espaço epidural por contiguidade, inoculação direta ou disseminação a distancia. Manifesta-se com febre, dor espinal e déficit neurológico. Apresentam-se três casos de EEE e fazem-se considerações clínicas, microbiológicas e terapêuticas.

Brucellar spinal epidural abscesses. single center experience of nineteen patients and review of the literature

Brucellar spinal epidural abscesses [SEA] are rare and very few series of them have been reported. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, laboratory, radiological findings and outcome of this entity. Of 146 patients with brucellosis, 19[13%] patients were diagnosed to have SEA during a period of 21 years [1990-2010]. Diagnosis made on clinical presentation, laboratory findings, radiographic evidence and the brucellar etiology was considered when seroagglutination tests were positive at a titer of 1/160 or higher, and/or Brucella spp. were isolated in the blood. The mean age of patients was 51 +/- 16 years [14 males, 5 females; age range, 22-74 years]. The median diagnostic delay was 2 months. Back or neck pain [100% of patients], fever [100%], and sweating [68.6%] were the most common symptoms. Cultures of blood specimens from 4 patients [21%] were positive for Brucella melitensis. Three patients [15.8%] had motor weakness or paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all cases. The lumbar vertebra was the most frequently involved region with the rate of 84.2%, followed by thoracal [15.8%], cervical [5.3%], lumbosacral [5.3%], and thoraco-lumbar [5.3%] segments. A combination of rifampin and doxycycline was the most widely used therapy regimen [9 cases, 47.3%]. The duration of antimicrobial therapy of brucellosis [median, 7 months; range, 4-13 months] varied according to the clinical response. There were no deaths or severe sequelae in this study Brucellar SEA should be considered in patients who have back pain and neurologic disorders as well as systemic symptoms and findings in or from endemic areas

Vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural abscesses caused by Prevotella oralis: a case report

An interesting case of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis with multiple epidural abscesses caused by non-pigmented Prevotella oralis is reported. The patient was a 68-year-old female who presented to the emergency room (ER) with severe pain and tenderness in her lower back with fever. She had recently undergone esophagogastroduodensoscopy (EGD) for complaints of esophageal reflux, which showed submucosal cyst in the esophagus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thoracic spine revealed multiple spinal epidural abscesses with signal enhancement at the level of T6 and T7, suggestive of vertebral osteomyelitis. Two blood cultures drawn one hour apart grew Prevotella oralis. The body fluid aspirated from the abscesses was also positive for the anaerobic commensal P. oralis. Necrosis associated with the submucosal cyst was implicated as the cause of sepsis and osteomyelitis due to this organism.

First case of Nocardia nova spinal abscess in an immunocompetent patient

Nocardia are a group of aerobic actinomycetes that are filamentous gram-positive, weakly acid-fast, and cause opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. Primary Nocardia infection mostly involves lung, skin and less commonly, the central nervous system (CNS). Among Nocardia CNS infections, spinal infection is extremely rare. We describe the first case of a spinal abscess caused by Nocardia nova in an immunocompetent patient who experienced a penetrating facial injury six months earlier. Nocardia species were isolated from intradural spinal abscesses and identified by 16S rRNA, hsp65 and secA1 sequence analyses. Surgical excision and treatment with amikacin, cefotaxime, and oral erythromycin was successful.

Abscesso extradural da coluna vertebral - Revisão de literatura / Spinal epidural abscess - Review of literature

O abscesso extradural da coluna vertebral tem sido considerado raro. Sua incidência é de 0,2 a 2 casos por 10.000 internações/ano. O presente trabalho apresenta uma revisão sobre abscesso extradural da coluna vertebral, analisando causas, quadro clínico, exames de neuroimagens, tratamento e prognóstico. Trata-se de artigo de revisão baseado em levantamento nas bases de dados Medline/PubMed e SciELO, em que foram analisados os artigos mais relevantes a respeito desse assunto. Foram selecionados 66 artigos, nos quais são analisados fatores predisponentes, localização anatômica, quadro clínico, exames complementares, tratamento e prognóstico. Acomete mais indivíduos idosos e do sexo masculino. Os principais fatores predisponentes são: diabetes mellitus, pacientes imunodeprimidos e intervenções cirúrgicas na coluna vertebral. As condições clínicas pré-operatórias, intervenção cirúrgica precoce, antibioticoterapia apropriada e reabilitação intensiva são fatores determinantes no prognóstico em abscesso extradural da coluna vertebral.

Extradural abscess in spine is considered rare. Its incidence is 0.2 to 2 cases in 10.000 hospitalization/year. The present research presents a review about extradural abscess in spine, analyzing causes, clinical state, neuroimaging exams, treatment and prognosis. It?s a review article based in Medline/PubMed and SciELO data, were analyzed the most relevant articles about the present subject. It was analyzed 66 articles, analyzing predisposing factors, anatomical location, clinical state, complementary exams, treatment and diagnosis. Affects mainly the elderly and males. The main predisposing factors are: diabetes mellitus, immunodepressed patients and surgical intervention in spine. Clinical pre-operative conditions, precocious surgical intervention, appropriate antibiotic therapy and intensive rehabilitation are determinant in prognosis of spine extradural abscess.

Síndrome confusional agudo como forma de presentación de un absceso espinal / Acute confusional syndrome as way of presentation of a spinal abscess

La alteración del nivel de conciencia puede ser producida por múltiples causas, es un síndrome que requiere de una actuación ordenada, rápida y eficaz; ya que se trata de una urgencia médica en la que el tiempo siempre va en contra del paciente. La aproximación al paciente geriátrico con alteración del nivel de conciencia debe ir encaminada al tratamiento de su causa y prevención de sus complicaciones. Objetivo: presentar un caso poco frecuente con un absceso espinal que debutó con un síndrome confusional agudo. Caso Clínico: paciente de 62 años de edad que inicia de forma aguda con cambio en su comportamiento, insomnio, abandono de hábitos cotidianos, se le olvida donde deja las cosas y está muy irritable. Al examen físico se encuentra: trastornos en la perceptividad y esfera cognitiva, dolor a la percusión, movilización de las apófisis espinosas dorsales I y II. Se practicó una resonancia magnética nuclear de región dorsal, la cual demostró la presencia de una lesión en el espacio epidural que se extendía desde el segundo al sexto segmento dorsal .Se llevó de forma urgente al salón de operaciones, se realizó abordaje posterior al raquis dorsal, a través del cual se evacuó un absceso epidural. En un período de 12 días las manifestaciones neuropsiquiatras desaparecieron. Conclusiones: el síndrome confusional agudo es una enfermedad que se puede ver entre el 10-15 por ciento de los pacientes con una enfermedad médico-quirúrgico, incidencia que se eleva hasta el 30 por ciento en los ancianos, y puede ser la forma de presentación poco frecuente de una infección intrarraquídea. El diagnóstico oportuno y tratamiento eficaz impidieron la progresión de las manifestaciones neurológicas y revirtieron la sintomatología.

The alteration of the level of consciousness may be produced by multiple causes; it is a syndrome that requires an orderly, quick and effective performance; since it is a medical urgency in which time always goes against the patient. The approach to the geriatric patient with alteration of the level of consciousness should be guided to the treatment of its cause and to the prevention of their complications. Objective: to present an infrequent case with a spinal abscess that started with an acute confusional syndrome. Clinical case: a 62 years old patient begins with an acute change in his behavior, insomnia, abandonment of daily habits, forgot things and also very irritable. To the physical examination were found: perceptivity disorders and cognitive sphere, pain at percussion, mobilization of I and II dorsal spines (DI-DII). A nuclear magnetic resonance of dorsal region was practiced, which showed up a lesion in the epidural space that extended from the second to the sixth segment (DII to DVI). He was taken urgently to the surgical room; he was carried out a posterior approach to the dorsal rachis, through which an epidural abscess was evacuated. In twelve days, neuropsychiatry manifestations disappeared. Conclusions: acute confusional syndrome is a disease that may be found between 10-15 percent of patients with a medical-surgical disease, incidence that rises until 30 percent in the old men, and may be an infrequent form of presentation of an intrarrhachidian infection. The opportune diagnosis and effective treatment impeded the progression of neurological manifestations and the symptomatology was reverted.

Empiema raquídeo en pediatría: dificultades en el diagnóstico y las decisiones terapéuticas / Spinal empyema in children: difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment decisions

El empiema raquídeo es una patología poco frecuente en niños. La sospecha clínica del mismo es fundamental para realizar un diagnóstico temprano e iniciar un tratamiento adecuado y oportuno que cambie el pronóstico vital y funcional del paciente. Sin embargo, el mismo es dificultoso en la mayoría de los pacientes dada la poca expresividad clínica al inicio de la enfermedad. En cuanto al tratamiento, se propone que es médico y quirúrgico, estando en discusión la exclusividad del primero y el momento oportuno para el segundo en algunos casos. Se presenta el caso de un niño de 7 años, que presentó un empiema raquídeo en el contexto de una infección de cuero cabelludo. Su presentación clínica, al igual que lo descripto en la literatura, fue insidiosa. Se inició tratamiento antibiótico, pero el aumento de la colección evidenciada en la resonancia magnética requirió la decomprensión quirúrgica. El paciente evolucionó de manera favorable, sin signos neurológicos deficitarios.

Complicações intracranianas de rinossinusite / Intracranials complications of rhinosinusitis

Apresenta-se caso de abscesso epidural intracraniano associado a um empiema subdural como complicações de rinossinusite. O diagnóstico foi feito pela clínica em conjunto com a tomografia computadorizada. O paciente foi tratado com antibioticoterapia tríplice e intervenção cirúrgica para drenagem de empiema, evoluindo para a cura.

Report a case of intracranial epidural abscess associated with subdural empyema as a complication of a rhinosinusitis. The diagnosis was made by the clinical course and computerized tomography. The patient was treated with antibiotic therapy of wide spectrum and surgical treatment to drain the empyema, going to cure.

Absceso Espinal Epidural secundario a bloqueo terapéutico: presentación de un caso / Epidural spinal abscess secondary to therapeutic blockade: presentation of a case

El Absceso Espinal Epidural es una colección purulenta que se localiza entre la duramadre y el canal raquimedular, siendo una entidad rara, y constituye una situación devastadora, causando una alta morbimortalidad si no se le da un seguimiento adecuado. Se origina por extensión directa (contigüidad, procedimientos invasivos locales) o por diseminación a partir de focos infecciosos a distancia (vía hematógena). Tiene una incidencia de 1 por cada 10 000 pacientes, con mayor afección en la tercera edad (sexta década), sin obviar las demás, incluyendo la infancia, con reportes en la literatura de más de 90 casos; con el advenimiento de drogas que se utilizan por vía endovenosa hay tendencia a aumentar en la población joven, así como, un predominio del sexo masculino. Es una patología de baja incidencia, la fiebre y el dorso lumbalgia son los síntomas más frecuentes, seguido de dolor de distribución radicular asociado a déficit motor y trastornos de esfínter tanto anal como vesical. En ocasiones puede desarrollar un cuadro séptico, llegando al shock séptico. El estudio de elección es la resonancia magnética con gadolinio. Constituye una urgencia tanto neuroquirúrgica como infectológica. En los pacientes con déficit neurológico, la cirugía es el tratamiento de elección, sumado a la antibióticoterapia.

Cervical Epidural Abscess in Haemodialysis Patients by Catheter Related Infection: Report of Two Cases

Despite advances in neuroimaging and neurosurgical treatment modalities, spinal epidural abscess remains a challenging problem. Early diagnosis is often difficult and treatment is always delayed. Spinal epidural abscess usually develops in patients with predisposing factors such as IV drug abuse, senillity, diabetes mellitus, spinal attempts, alcoholism, immunosuppression, liver diseases and catheterizations. It is rarely seen in cervical region. A successful treatment is only possible with early diagnosis and accurate surgical and medical treatment. Optimal management is unclear and morbidity and mortality are significant. We present two adult haemodialysis patients with end-stage renal insufficiency who developed cervical epidural abscess following central venous catheter placement. Early surgical intervention is mandatory in cases those have progressive neurological deficit and spinal deformity, and this is also increases the success rate of medical therapy.

Absceso epidural lumbar post hernia discal traumática: caso clínico / Lumbar epidural abscess secondary to traumatic disk herniation: a case report

We report the case of a 42-year-old male patient presenting with trauma history and lumbar spine axial compression which caused a herniated nucleus pulposus at lumbar level, revealed through MRI. After a four-day evolution period, fever and laboratory alterations indicative of an infectious process appear without signs of neurologic involvement. Hemoculture was positive for Staphylococcus aureus and MRI showed the presence of a lumbar spinal abscess secondary to infected epidural hematoma. The patient was treated with antibiotics, being given ceftriaxone, metronidazol, and gentamicin as an initial theraphy switched subsecuently to cloxaciline and cefazoline, He showed a favourable evolution, completing a six-week period of endovenous treatment plus four weeks receiving oral therapy The patient was discharged in good condition with no neurologic deficit.

Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 42 años con historia de trauma y compresión axial de la columna lumbar que originó una hernia de núcleo pulposo a nivel lumbar, demostrada mediante resonancia magnética. Al cuarto día de evolución aparece fiebre y alteraciones de laboratorio concordantes con infección, sin signos de compromiso neurológico. El hemocultivo resulta positivo para staphylococcus aureus. La resonancia magnética demuestra presencia de absceso espinal lumbar, que impresiona secundario a hematoma epidural infectado. El paciente es tratado médicamente, con antibioticoterapia que incluye inicial mente ceftriaxona/ metronidazol/ gentamicina y posteriormente cloxacilina/cefazotina, con buena evolución, completando 6 semanas por vía endovenosa y 4 vía oral. Su evolución fue favorable, siendo dado de alta en buenas condiciones y sin déficit neurológico.

Abcesso epidural pós-traumático / Epidural post-trauma abscess

Abcessos epidurais são formas incomuns de infecção na coluna, com complicações graves em decorência de seu difícil diagnóstico e tratamento. Apesar dos avanços em métodos diagnósticos e de tratamento medicamentoso e cirúrgico, a taxa de mortalidade encontrada na literatura varia de 5 a 32 por cento. Os autores apresentam um caso de fratura de coluna torácica, que evoluiu com abcesso epidural, num paciente portador de espondilite anquilosante. Houve déficit neurológico rapidamente progressivo, que regrediu após descompressão de emergência e fixação cirúrgica da fratura. Apesar do curso longo de antibioticoterapia, houve recidiva da infecção, só controlada após remoção do material de síntese. Em casos de fratura de coluna em pacientes imunocomprometidos, a hipótese de abcesso epidural, quando houver dor de difícil controle ou déficit neurológico progressivo, deve ser lembrada.

Epidural abscesses are uncommon forms of spinal infection, presenting severe complications due to its difficult diagnosis and management. Although diagnosis and management have evolved, mortality rates are still high, ranging from 5 to 32 percent according to literature. The authors present a case of thoracic spine fracture, evolving with an epidural abscess, in a patient suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, with longstanding steroid therapy. A rapidly progressive neurological deficit developed, which resolved after emergency decompression and fracture fixation. Despite of the long-term antibiotic treatment, the infection recurred, being controlled only after hardware removal. In cases of spine fractures associated to immunossupression, the hypothesis of epidural abscess, especially with intense pain or progressive neurological deficit, must be considered.