Adolescence spinal epidural abscess with neurological symptoms: case report, a lesson to be re-learnt

Epidural abscess of the spinal column is a rare condition that can be fatal if left untreated. It promptly pro-gresses and can cause neurologic paralysis, urinary retention or cauda equina syndrome. Compromised im-mune system that occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus, AIDS, chronic renal failure, alcoholism, or cancer is a predisposing factor. It mostly occurs in adults. Here we would like to report a case of spontaneous pyogenic lumbar epidural abscess with neurological deficit diagnosed in a 15 year old boy. We treated this case success-fully with surgical microscopic decompression and drainage.