Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) caused by Escherichia coli is an uncommon condition. It usually occurs secondary to urinary tract infection (UTI), following hematogenous propagation. Disruption of spinal anatomic barriers increases susceptibility to SEA. Although rarely, such disruption can take the form of lumbar spine stress fractures, which can result from even innocuous activity. Here, we describe a case of SEA secondary to UTI in a patient with pre-existing stress fractures of the lumbar spine, following use of an automated massage chair. Successful treatment of SEA consisted of surgical debridement and a six-month course of antibiotic therapy.

Citations

• Spinal epidural abscess post-ureteroscopy: a case report
  Stephanie N. Washington, David D. Kim, Luke F. Reynolds
  BMC Urology.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Acute Paraplegia Caused by Spinal Epidural Empyema Following Infectious Cellulitis of the Hand: Case Report and Literature Review
  Breno Nery, Cláudio Brandão Filho, Lucas Nunes, Eduardo Quaggio, Fred Bernardes Filho, Joaquim Alencar Neto, Layssa Rhossana Melo, Anna Carolyne Oliveira, Rafael Rabello, Victoria Rodrigues Durand, Rayssa Rocha Silva, Rafael Emmanuel Costa, José Alencar S
  Journal of Neurological Surgery Reports.2024; 85(02): e29.     CrossRef