RESUMO
Background: Spinal intradural extramedullary hemorrhage is a rare and important pathology that may precipitate acute compressive myelopathy. It is most commonly associated with spinal trauma, neoplasia, vasculopathy, and iatrogenesis. In rare circumstances, it occurs spontaneously secondary to anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications without an underlying structural lesion. In these instances, it may be related to vasculopathy and/ or cardiovascular disease risk factors. We highlight the salient clinical and radiological features of this pathology, discuss putative mechanisms of its pathogenesis, and describe surgical considerations related to its management. Case Description: This report describes an elderly gentleman who presented with two discrete spinal hemorrhages associated with separate foci of bleeding, in the context of therapeutic anticoagulation, on a background of significant structural and functional cardiovascular disease with risk factors. Conclusion: Our report is novel in that there are no other cases, to the best of our knowledge, of multiple non-contiguous anticoagulation-related spontaneous acute spinal intradural extramedullary hemorrhages in the medical literature. This article is written with the purpose of assisting clinicians to recognize and expedite treatment of this rare pathology. Prompt diagnosis followed by urgent decompressive surgery provides the best functional outcomes.
RESUMO
Spondylodiscitis is an insidious and infectious pathology of the spinal column attributable to pathogenic micro-organisms and occurs in a variety of contexts. These micro-organisms can be inoculated surgically or can metastasise from distant sites of infection. Klebsiella species are important community-acquired and nosocomial pathogens but are uncommonly implicated in spinal infection. Klebsiella oxytoca is more obscure than its generic relative Klebsiella pneumoniae and has only five times previously been reported in spondylodiscitis. It possesses the ability to acquire inducible and recombinant antibiotic resistance, especially in the hospital setting. We describe the case of an elderly man with complex urology and this rare sequela due to incomplete treatment of a K. oxytoca urinary infection. He developed sepsis that recurred after incomplete antibiosis and seeded to his thoracic spine causing overt spondylodiscitis. The infection fulminated and his spinal lesion deteriorated into acute spinal cord compression with neurological compromise, requiring surgical decompression, fixation and long-term antibiotics. This is a sixth documented instance of a rare spinal bacterial infection. We describe the relevant microbiology and pathology, neurosurgical considerations, and general practice points for clinicians. Our report is a novel illustration of the potentially catastrophic consequences of inadequately treated urosepsis and is a stark reminder of the importance of antimicrobial stewardship.
