Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Ventral cervical spinal epidural abscess is a very rare clinical condition with a relatively high morbidity and mortality. Due to the paucity of reported cases there is heterogeneity and no clear "gold standard" in the treatment of these patients.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report four consecutive patients with ventral cervical spinal epidural abscess treated with anterior cervical discectomy, abscess drainage and original non-instrumented cortico-cancellous allograft spinal fusion.
METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed a series of four patients treated for ventral cervical epidural spinal abscess. All patients were treated with an urgent operation. Anterior cervical discectomy, abscess drainage, and non-instrumented cortico-cancellous allograft spinal fusion followed by cervical immobilization and systemic antibiotic treatment were utilized.
RESULTS
The bone fusion occurred within a mean of 3.5 months of follow-up. No significant radiologic or clinical evidence of graft subsidence was noted after a minimum of 2.5 years follow-up. All patients resolved infection and were neurologically intact. No complications of treatment were noted.
CONCLUSION
Urgent operative treatment with anterior cervical discectomy, abscess drainage and non-instrumented cortico-cancellous allograft spinal fusion, followed by immobilization and the appropriate systemic antibiotic treatment is an effective original modification for the treatment and resolution of ventral cervical epidural spinal abscess.

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Authors

Arnautovic KI, Olinger RG

Institution

Semmes-Murphey Clinic and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA. kenanarnaut@yahoo.com

Source

Medicinski arhiv 66:3 2012 pg 194-7

MeSH

Adult
Aged
Bone Transplantation
Cervical Vertebrae
Diskectomy
Drainage
Epidural Abscess
Female
Framycetin
Humans
Male
Postoperative Care
Spinal Fusion
Transplantation, Homologous

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22822622