Abscess - epidural; Spinal abscess

Spinal epidural abscess:

• Bowel or bladder incontinence
• Difficulty urinating (urinary retention)
• Fever and back pain

Intracranial epidural abscess:

• Fever
• Headache
• Lethargy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain at the site of recent surgery that gets worse (especially if fever is present)

Neurological symptoms depend on the location of the abscess and may include:

• Decreased ability to move any part of the body
• Loss of sensation in any area of the body, or abnormal changes in sensation
• Weakness

The health care provider will perform an exam to look for a loss of functions such as movement or sensation.

Tests may include:

• Blood culture
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• CT scan of head or spine
• MRI of head or spine

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Epidural abscess Overview

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Epidural abscess Treatment

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)