Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society

The Korean Neurosurgical Society (대한신경외과학회)
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Surgical Treatment of the Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Abscess

자발성 척추 경막외 농양의 수술적 치료

  • Lee, Jung-Kil (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School) ;
  • Kim, Soo-Han (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School) ;
  • Kim, Eun-Seong (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School) ;
  • Kim, Tae-Sun (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School) ;
  • Jung, Shin (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School) ;
  • Kim, Jae-Hyoo (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School) ;
  • Kang, Sam-Suk (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School) ;
  • Lee, Je-Hyuk (Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam University Hospital & Medical School)
  • 이정길 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실) ;
  • 김수한 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실) ;
  • 김은성 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실) ;
  • 김태선 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실) ;
  • 정신 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실) ;
  • 김재휴 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실) ;
  • 강삼석 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실) ;
  • 이제혁 (전남대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실)
  • Received : 1999.12.21
  • Accepted : 2000.03.10
  • Published : 2000.08.28
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Abstract

Objective : The goal of this study was to recognize the clinical feature and associated risk factors in spinal epidural abscess(SEA), and to improve the outcome accordingly. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in 14 patients with SEA who underwent surgical intervention at our hospital between 1990 and 1999. Results : After a mean follow-up period of 10.2 months(range, 1-57 months), 8 patients had no or minimal deficits, 4 patients had severe paresis or plegia and/or bowel/bladder dysfunction, and 2 patients died due to medical complications. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen, isolated in 9 patients(64.3%). Cervical and thoracic spinal epidural abscesses showed a tendency to develop rapidly and were associated with severe neurological deficits. Conclusion : Thoracic spinal epidural abscesses were associated with a poorer prognosis than those in other regions. Therefore, it should be treated more aggressively. Good neurological recovery can be obtained despite severe neurologic deficit when treated by early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention.

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