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Neurospine 2020 Jul 31;17(Suppl 1):S160-S165. Epub 2020 Jul 31.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changuhua, Taiwan.

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare disease that is less likely to occur in the cervical region. When it occurs here, cervical spondylodiscitis can develop. Surgical treatment is recommended because of possible life-threatening septic and neurological complications. Read More

Iowa Orthop J 2020 ;40(1):101-103

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Iowa City, IA.

Background: Disconnection of the tubing between the port and LAGB is a well-known complication in general surgery and accounts for up to 17% of LAGB complications. Typically, when this complication occurs patients present with abdominal or pelvic complaints. A complication of spinal infection due to trans-foraminal migration has not been previously reported. Read More

J Card Surg 2020 Aug 2. Epub 2020 Aug 2.

Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia.

Mycobacterium chimaera can cause disseminated infection following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and contaminated heater-cooler devices. We discuss a 41-year-old man with a disseminated M. chimaera infection following surgery for a type A aortic dissection. Read More

Ann Emerg Med 2020 Jul 28. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Root cause analysis is often suggested as a means of conducting quality assurance, but few physicians are familiar with the actual process. We describe a detailed approach to conducting root cause analysis, with an illustrative case to explain the technique. By studying how root cause analysis is applied to the case of a missed epidural abscess, the reader will see how the process reveals systems improvements that reduce the risk that such a miss will happen again. Read More

Med Intensiva 2020 Jul 28. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, Jaén, España.

Asian Spine J 2020 Jul 29. Epub 2020 Jul 29.

Spine Surgery Outcome Group, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in diagnostic medicine, early recognition of SEAs remains elusive. The vague presentation of the disease, coupled with its numerous risk factors, the diagnostic requirement for obtaining advanced imaging, and the necessity of specialized care constitute extraordinary challenges to both diagnosis and treatment of SEA. Read More

J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2020 Jul 17. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Dr. Schwab), and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA (Dr. Shah).

An infection of the spinal epidural space, spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a potentially devastating entity that is rising in incidence. Its insidious presentation, variable progression, and potential for precipitous neurologic decline make diagnosis and management of SEA challenging. Prompt diagnosis is key because treatment delay can lead to paralysis or death. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Jul;139:699

Department of Psychiatry, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Center of Dementia, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Surgeon 2020 Jul 16. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.

Background: Spinal Epidural Abscesses (SEAs) are traditionally seen as a surgical emergency. However, SEAs can be discovered in entirely asymptomatic patients. This presents a dilemma for the attending clinician as to whether to subject these patients to significant surgery. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2020 Aug;45(15):E959-E966

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To develop a comprehensive understanding of the prognostic value of laboratory markers on morbidity and mortality following epidural abscess.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal epidural abscess is a serious medical condition with high rates of morbidity. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Jul 16;13(7). Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Infectious diseases, CHR Citadelle, Liege, Belgium.

A 76-year-old woman with a rare case of spinal epidural abscess (SEA) that had no risk factors for such type of infection, presented symptoms of back pain, progressive neurological deficit of the lower limb and loss of sphincter control. A gadolinium-enhanced MRI confirmed the diagnosis of an SEA. The patient underwent laminectomy with surgical drainage, where cultures showed the presence of , a bacterium of the HACEK group ( species, species, , , and species), rarely involved in SEA. Read More

CJEM 2020 Jul 17:1-3. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Division of Neurosurgery, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, AB.

A 65-year-old male with a history of hypertension presents to the emergency department (ED) with new onset of non-traumatic back pain. The patient is investigated for life-threatening diagnoses and screened for "red flag symptoms," including fever, neurologic abnormalities, bowel/bladder symptoms, and a history of injectiondrug use (IVDU). The patient is treated symptomatically and discharged home but represents to the ED three additional times, each time with new and progressive symptoms. Read More

Clin Orthop Relat Res 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

N. Dwivedi, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA M. A. Breslin, A. McDermott, S. Lin, H. A. Vallier, Department of Orthopaedics, the MetroHealth System, affiliated with Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA P. Tornetta, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Orthopaedic sequelae such as skin and soft-tissue abscesses are frequent complications of intravenous drug use (IVDU) and comprise many of the most common indications for emergency room visits and hospitalizations within this population. Urban tertiary-care and safety-net hospitals frequently operate in challenging economic healthcare environments and are disproportionately tasked with providing care to this largely underinsured patient demographic. Although many public health initiatives have been instituted in recent years to understand the health impacts of IVDU and the spreading opioid epidemic, few efforts have been made to investigate its economic impact on healthcare systems. Read More

J Spine Surg 2020 Jun;6(2):415-423

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Taoyuan General Hospital, Taoyuan.

Background: In recent years, full-endoscopic debridement and drainage (FEDD) is gaining popularity treating spondylodiscitis. Comparing to tradition open surgery, FEDD possess many advantages including lower anesthesia risk and minimally invasiveness. In this study, we report our surgical technique of FEDD and preliminary clinical outcome in 34 consecutive patients with minimum 12 months follow-up. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2020 Apr-Jun;15(2):445-448. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Pathology, Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Rare entities are difficult to predict. They are considered last rightly, to expedite treatment and alleviate symptoms quickly. Rare presentations of rare diseases form a particularly difficult section of diagnoses that are not only impossible to predict but difficult to recognize, diagnose, and treat. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2020 Apr-Jun;15(2):440-444. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

is caused by a Gram-negative bacillus and is a common disease in endemic areas where people are in close contact with animals and dairy products, but brucellar cervical epidural abscess is rare. We describe a rare case of a C5-6 brucellar epidural abscess in a veterinary doctor who was treated with decompression and instrumentation. We also review the cases of cervical brucellar epidural abscess treated with instrumentation in the literature. Read More

Asian J Neurosurg 2020 Apr-Jun;15(2):354-362. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of Health Sciences, Bakirköy Research and Training Hospital for Neurology Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, Istanbul, Turkey.

Aim: Preoperatively performed magnetic resonance images (MRIs) are essential before treating spinal tumors surgically. This study aims to investigate the compatibility of MRI preliminary diagnosis and proven histopathologic diagnosis of consecutively operated 96 spinal tumors.

Material And Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all spinal tumors operated at our institute during a period of 6 years. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2020 Jul 9:1-5. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Human Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by species of Brucella, which can involve multiple organs and tissues. Spinal epidural abscesses are rare and may be complicated by potentially life threatening neurological or vascular compromise. We report a 21-year-old female with spinal brucellosis complicated by lumbar spondylodiscitis, epidural abscess and a large right-sided paraspinal abscess extended from L4 to sacrum. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2020 20;11:160. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Background: Every year approximately 19.6 patients/100,000 per year are admitted to hospitals with spinal epidural abscesses (CSEA), 7.4/100,000 have vertebral osteomyelitis (VO)/100,000/year, while 4. Read More

PLoS One 2020 2;15(7):e0235636. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Department of Surgical Sciences, Unit for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Objective: The use of epidural analgesia after major surgery is a well-established analgesia method. Epidural analgesia for postoperative pain relief needs to be monitored regularly in order to evaluate patient satisfaction and avoid side effects. However, due to the new available regional techniques, the role of epidural analgesia is being questioned and data about patient satisfaction is lacking. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2019 Jul 2;5(1):62. Epub 2019 Jul 2.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, 249203, Uttarakhand, India.

Introduction: Holocord spinal cord epidural abscess is an uncommon condition that may result in serious neurological complications. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment is of paramount importance for an optimum clinical outcome. This case report describes a novel technique of interval laminectomy at two sites in the thoracic spine and surgical decompression with the help of infant feeding tubes in a case of holocord spinal epidural abscess (HSEA). Read More

J Infect Chemother 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Pathogen, Infection and Immunity, Nara Medical University, Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.

Non-typhoidal Salmonellae are Gram negative bacilli commonly causing self-limiting gastroenteritis, representing a public health issue particularly in tropical countries. Further, the epidemiology of invasive infection by non-typhoidal Salmonella species is poorly understood. Herein, we presented a case of an unusual Salmonella enterica subsp. Read More

Thorac Cancer 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

A 70-year-old male was referred to our hospital with lower limb muscle weakness and numbness of the left hand. The patient had previously been diagnosed seven years ago with lung cancer accompanied by central airway obstruction and had received chemoradiotherapy following placement of a metallic stent. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an osteolytic lesion which was adjacent to the fractured stent. Read More

World J Clin Cases 2020 Jun;8(11):2318-2324

Department of Spinal Surgery, the Third Medical Center, PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China.

Background: Chronic neck pain is a common clinical problem. It has long been considered that degenerative cervical disc is an important source of chronic neck pain. In the clinic, cervical discography is thought to be a useful and safe method to distinguish aging discs from pathological discs, and the probability of complications caused by it is really rare. Read More

Br J Neurosurg 2020 Jun 12:1-3. Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Radiology, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.

A 44-year-old male was admitted with L5/S1 spondylodiscitis complicated by a posterior epidural abscess that was compressing the thecal sac with severe narrowing of the canal and compression of the cauda equine. He underwent computed tomography (CT) guided drainage followed by L5/S1 decompression laminectomy and was started on a 6-week course of intravenous antibiotics with good response. He remained well and afebrile with inflammatory markers showing improvement. Read More

Orthop Surg 2020 Jun 10. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of minimally invasive oblique lumbar interbody debridement and fusion for the treatment of conservatively ineffective lumbar spondylodiscitis.

Methods: This is a retrospective study. Between December 2016 and November 2017, a total of 14 consecutive patients (eight males and six females, with an average age of 49. Read More

AACE Clin Case Rep 2020 May-Jun;6(3):e132-e134. Epub 2020 May 11.

Objective: To report a massive increase in subcutaneous insulin requirements following spinal cord injury in a type 1 diabetic and how it was managed over a 22-month period with pramlintide.

Methods: A case report and brief literature review is presented.

Results: The patient is a 43-year-old male who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus at age 18. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2020 Jun 4. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel and Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, 49202, Petah Tikva, Israel.

Objectives: Several studies have reported that younger children suffer from increased incidence and more severe episodes of acute mastoiditis (AM) than older children, whereas other researchers have found the opposite. The aim of our study was to describe the occurrence, clinical, and microbiological aspects of AM in children 6 months or younger, and compare them with the results in an older reference age band.

Methods: The medical files of children hospitalized with a diagnosis of AM during 2001-2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

IDCases 2020 11;21:e00801. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Hospital Medicine, Marshfield Clinic Health System - Marshfield, Marshfield, WI, 54444, United States.

() is a gram-negative coccobacillus that comprises the normal oral, upper respiratory, and gastrointestinal flora of many wild and domestic animals. Disease transmission primarily occurs via animal bites, scratches, and licks on broken skin. most commonly causes skin and soft tissue infection and local abscess formation; however, we report a unique case of spinal epidural abscess due to infection in a patient with a history of recent epidural steroid injection and repeated cat bites. Read More

Cureus 2020 Apr 22;12(4):e7787. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Infectious Disease, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA.

Lemierre's syndrome is a rare but life-threatening condition characterized by an oropharyngeal infection typically secondary to Fusobacterium necrophorum resulting in septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. Streptococcus intermedius is a particularly rare cause of Lemierre's syndrome with only a few cases reported in the literature. Here we describe a rare case of Lemierre's syndrome, caused by Streptococcus intermedius, likely secondary to an odontogenic infection, found to have a cervical epidural abscess with concomitant large retropharyngeal and prevertebral abscesses on presentation, in whom the clinical course was further complicated by an extensive cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Read More

Med Clin (Barc) 2020 May 20. Epub 2020 May 20.

Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, Valencia, Spain.

Introduction/objectives: To describe the clinical, radiological and microbiological characteristics of vertebral osteomyelitis patients, analysing the factors that played a role on their outcome.

Patients And Methods: Single-centre retrospective observational study including patients diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis, based on the combination of clinical presentation with either a definitive bacteriological diagnosis and/or imaging studies.

Results: 116 adult patients were included with a mean age of 62. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 May 20;13(5). Epub 2020 May 20.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kobe Red Cross Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

An 87-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital with a 5-day history of fever and neck pain. On physical examination, his stiff neck indicated restricted movement, especially on rotation. CT of the head revealed calcification of the atlantoaxial joint consistent with crowned dens syndrome, and celecoxib was started. Read More

Indian J Med Microbiol 2019 Oct-Dec;37(4):590-592

Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare entity, but it is associated with high mortality. Here, we describe a rare case of pneumococcal SEA in an immunocompetent adult who presented with fever, lower back pain and paresis. Central nervous system examination revealed a decreased power in bilateral lower limbs. Read More

Front Surg 2020 30;7:20. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, IRCCS San Matteo Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) incidence is rising. However, most series do not differentiate between SEAs associated with pyogenic infectious spondylodiscitis (PS) and SEAs limited to the epidural space. We retrospectively reviewed the records and radiological images of all patients admitted to our institutions with a diagnosis of SEA not associated with PS between January 2013 and December 2018. Read More

Curr Med Mycol 2020 ;6(1):55-60

Department of Infectious Diseases, Children Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background And Purpose: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) of the central nervous system (CNS) is a devastating complication which is rarely reported in immunocompromised children. In this case presentation, we reported a rare and fatal IA with spinal cord involvement in a 10-year-old child with X-linked chronic granulomatosis disease (CGD).

Case Report: The child had a previous history of pulmonary tuberculosis. Read More

Orbit 2020 Aug 18;39(4):305-310. Epub 2020 May 18.

Department of Radiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School , Newark, New Jersey, USA.

We review two cases of adolescents with orbital cellulitis, sinusitis and SARS- CoV-2 infection presenting to emergency departments within a 24 hour period. SARS-CoV-2 samples obtained within 24 hours were positive, supporting prior infection despite relatively limited early symptoms of COVID-19. Unusual clinical and radiographic characteristics included hemorrhagic abscess with blood of varying age in the first, intracranial epidural abscess in the second, radiographic signal consistent with hemorrhagic or thrombotic phenomena, retro-maxillary antral fat changes, and meningeal enhancement or extension in both cases. Read More

Spine J 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No.155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Background Context: Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) can cause neurologic deficits and needs urgent surgical intervention. Many clinical factors had been proposed to predict surgical outcomes in patients with SEA, but the predictive radiographic risk factors for residual neurologic deficits were not addressed sufficiently.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical and radiographic risk factors for residual neurologic deficit in patients with SEA after surgical intervention of the thoracic or lumbar spine. Read More

Spine Surg Relat Res 2020 29;4(2):178-183. Epub 2020 Jan 29.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.

Introduction: The transoral mandibular tongue-splitting approach is typically performed for the treatment of upper cervical tumor and instability but has not been performed for the treatment of upper cervical epidural abscess (UCEA). We report the first case of UCEA successfully treated with a transoral mandibular tongue-splitting approach.

Technical Note: A 62-year-old man who had medical histories of tracheotomy with intubation and dermatopathy due to radiation therapy for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented with neck pain and limb weakness. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2020 May 13;6(1):40. Epub 2020 May 13.

The Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Introduction: Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO), spondylodiscitis, and spinal epidural abscesses (SEA) are infectious and inflammatory processes impacting the spine that cause major morbidity and mortality. They require prolonged hospital stays with expensive treatment regimens. Along with acute management, studies have provided evidence highlighting poor long-term outcomes. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2019 05 10;5(1):43. Epub 2019 May 10.

Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, USA.

Introduction: Spinal epidural abscesses are most commonly treated with surgical decompression and antibiotics or in specific instances managed medically with antibiotic therapy alone. Image-guided percutaneous aspiration as an alternative to surgery has only rarely been reported in the literature.

Case Presentation: We report two cases of successful fluoroscopy-guided needle aspiration of posterior epidural abscesses. Read More

BMC Surg 2020 May 6;20(1):92. Epub 2020 May 6.

Department of Surgery A, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is essential for managing biliary and pancreatic disorders. Infection is the most morbid complication of ERCP and among the most common causes of ERCP-related death.

Case Presentation: A 69-year-old man presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice and abnormal liver function tests. Read More

Cureus 2020 Mar 31;12(3):e7494. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA.

We report a unique presentation of an epidural abscess following mild trauma in a patient with asplenia. The patient reported subjective fever and marked pain along the right hip and flank, which are atypical locations for epidural abscess pain. A subsequent urinalysis showed leukocytes, and the diagnosis of an epidural abscess was missed until the patient presented over two weeks later with fever, spinal pain, leg weakness, and urinary incontinence. Read More

Infect Disord Drug Targets 2020 Apr 27. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, New Mexico. United States.

Case Report: We report a case of spinal abscess/osteomyelitis at the T9-T10 levels in a non-immunocompromised patient who presented with lower extremity weakness secondary to a Mycobacterium abscessus infection. This patient was successfully treated with surgical debridement with amikacin-tigecycline-imipenem triple therapy before and after her debridement. Outcomes and treatment with this rare cause of epidural abscess/osteomyelitis are not well defined at this time. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2020 Jul-Aug;31(5):1452-1454

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Toho, University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: The authors treated skin ulcer accompanied by cranial osteomyelitis using a combination of antibiotic-impregnated calcium phosphate bone cement (Biopex; Pentax, Tokyo, Japan) and a titanium mesh sheet (3D Mesh Plate; Bear Medic, Tokyo, Japan).

Method: A 71-year-old male was treated with superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass surgery for diffuse cerebral infarction and obstruction of the left internal carotid artery by a previous doctor. Skin necrosis and epidural abscess developed in the sutured region after surgery, and ulcer accompanied by temporal bone exposure remained. Read More

Pediatr Int 2020 04 19;62(4):502-503. Epub 2020 Apr 19.

Department of, Infectious Diseases, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Childs Nerv Syst 2020 Jul 14;36(7):1385-1392. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, Santobono-Pausilipon Children's Hospital, Naples, Italy.

Background: Pediatric spinal epidural abscess is a major suppurative infection of the central nervous system. It is an extremely rare pathology carrying serious risk of permanent neurological sequelae if is not properly treated.

Methods And Results: All the pertinent literature was analyzed, focused on pediatric cases of spinal epidural abscess and its peculiar features. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Jul 9;139:268-273. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Background: No formalized surgical treatment strategy exists for a thoracic epidural abscess. Although endoscopic approaches have been described for the treatment of spinal infections, this is the first report of an endoscopic transforaminal approach for the drainage of a thoracic/lumbar epidural abscess with placement of indwelling abscess drain. We present a novel use of a known endoscopic approach and describe a minimally invasive surgical option for ventrally located thoracic epidural abscesses. Read More

Orthopedics 2020 Jul 12;43(4):e244-e250. Epub 2020 Apr 12.

Spinal emergencies require prompt identification, management, and surgical referral (if needed) from first-line providers. Diagnostic delays from a failure to recognize emergency conditions can lead to adverse patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to understand the proficiency with which first-line providers can recognize and manage spinal conditions, particularly spinal emergencies. Read More