Spinal cord abscess

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Central nervous system

Abscess - spinal cord

The goals of treatment are to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and cure the infection.

• Urgent surgery to relieve the pressure is sometimes recommended. The surgery is called laminectomy. It involves removing part of the spine bone and draining the abscess. Sometimes it is not possible to completely drain the abscess.
• Medicines are prescribed to get rid of the infection. This may include a combination of antibiotics.
• Corticosteroids may occasionally be prescribed to reduce swelling and pressure on the spinal cord.

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How well a person does after treatment varies. Some people recover completely.

An untreated spinal cord abscess can lead to spinal cord compression. It can cause permanent, severe paralysis and nerve loss. It may be life-threatening.

If the abscess is not drained completely, it may return or cause scarring in the spinal cord.

The abscess can either injure the spinal cord from direct pressure, or it can cut off the blood supply to the spinal cord.

Complications may include:

• Long-term (chronic) back pain
• Loss of bladder/bowel control
• Loss of sensation
• Male impotence
• Weakness, paralysis

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms of spinal cord abscess.

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).