Epidural abscess

Spinal epidural abscess:

• Fever and back pain (the back pain may be confined to the spine or may radiate to the arms or legs)
• Bowel or bladder incontinence
• Difficulty urinating (urinary retention)

Intracranial epidural abscess:

• Headache, fever, lethargy, nausea and vomiting (if associated with sinusitis or chronic ear infections, there may be localized pain in those areas)
• Progressive pain at the site of recent surgery (neurosurgery), especially if accompanied by fever
• Neurological symptoms depend on the location of the abscess, which can be varied and include:
  • Weakness, paralysis, or decreased ability to move any part of the body
  • Loss of sensation in any area of the body or abnormal changes in sensation

Anyone with persistent back pain with fever or headache with fever should have a medical evaluation. This should include a neurological exam to look for a loss of functions such as movement or sensation.

Tests such as CT (cat scan) or MRI are frequently needed to confirm the presence of an epidural abscess.

To establish a diagnosis of the underlying infection causing the abscess, sampling of the abscess is usually necessary.

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