A middle-aged patient presented with persistent purulent discharge from a scalp incision five years after undergoing craniotomy with artificial dura mater implantation. The wound showed no significant improvement despite a month of systemic antibiotic therapy and local debridement. Subsequent superficial ultrasonography revealed complete separation of the artificial dura mater implant area from the surrounding flap tissue, with a loss of local blood supply. Based on these findings, the artificial dura mater was surgically removed, and a free skin flap transplantation was performed to successfully cover the wound. The wound was well-healed at the 10-month postoperative follow-up.
Humans ; Scalp/diagnostic imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Epidural Abscess/etiology* ; Ultrasonography ; Surgical Flaps ; Surgical Wound Infection/surgery* ; Dura Mater/surgery*

Humans ; Epidural Abscess/etiology* ; Acupuncture Therapy/adverse effects* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/adverse effects* ; Epidural Space ; Spinal Diseases

Brucella ; Brucellosis/diagnosis* ; Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Epidural Abscess ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Quadriplegia ; Spondylitis/diagnostic imaging*

Child ; Community-Acquired Infections ; complications ; microbiology ; Epidural Abscess ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; pathogenicity ; Staphylococcal Infections ; complications ; microbiology

BACKGROUND: The clinical outcomes and safety of thoracic epidural catheterization in anesthetized adult patients has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical differences between epidural catheterization performed before and after anesthesia for postoperative pain control. METHODS: The medical records of 549 patients who received thoracic epidural catheterization before (awake group, n = 303) or after (anesthetized group, n = 246) induction of anesthesia for major abdominal surgery were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The catheter insertion time (1.6 ± 1.5 vs. 1.1 ± 1.2 min; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.3–0.8; effect size, 0.368; P < 0.001) and number of attempts required for successful epidural catheterization (1 [1, 3] vs. 1 [1, 2], P = 0.003) were increased in the awake group. The incidence rates of dural puncture, vascular injury and postoperative paresthesia were similar between the two groups. The median surgical site numerical rating scale pain score (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable) was lower in the awake group than in the anesthetized group (3 vs. 4 on postoperative day 1, P < 0.001; and 2 vs. 3 on postoperative day 3, P = 0.002). Serious complications, including meningitis, epidural abscess, epidural hematoma, spinal cord injury, and paraplegia, were not observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Successful epidural catheterization before induction of anesthesia required more attempts versus after anesthesia. Overall complication rates of thoracic epidural catheterization were similar regardless of the timing of the procedure.
Adult ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Epidural Abscess ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Meningitis ; Pain, Postoperative ; Paraplegia ; Paresthesia ; Postoperative Complications ; Punctures ; Retrospective Studies* ; Vascular System Injuries

Eikenella corrodens rarely causes invasive head and neck infections in immunocompetent children. We report a case of epidural abscess caused by E. corrodens in a previously healthy 13-year-old boy who presented with fever, headache, and vomiting. On physical examination upon admission, there was no neck stiffness, but discharge from the right ear was observed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed approximately 4.5-cm-sized epidural empyema on the right temporal lobe as well as bilateral ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis, right mastoiditis, and right otitis media. During treatment with vancomycin and cefotaxime, purulent ear discharge aggravated, and on follow-up brain MRI, the empyema size increased to 5.6×3.4 cm with interval development of an abscess at the right sphenoid sinus. Burr hole trephination was performed, and foul-smelling pus was aspirated from the epidural abscess near the right temporal lobe. Pus culture yielded E. corrodens. Endoscopic sphenoidotomy was also performed with massive pus drainage, and the same organism was grown. The patient was treated with intravenous cefotaxime for 3 weeks and recovered well with no other complications. Therefore, E. corrodens can cause serious complications in children with untreated sinusitis.
Abscess ; Adolescent ; Brain ; Cefotaxime ; Child ; Drainage ; Ear ; Eikenella corrodens ; Eikenella ; Empyema ; Epidural Abscess ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mastoid ; Mastoiditis ; Neck ; Otitis Media ; Physical Examination ; Sinusitis ; Sphenoid Sinus ; Sphenoid Sinusitis ; Suppuration ; Temporal Lobe ; Trephining ; Vancomycin ; Vomiting

The incidence of vaccine-type Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage and disease have declined in vaccinated children as well as in unvaccinated children and adults. However, diseases caused by non-vaccine type (NVT) S. pneumoniae are increasing. In this study, we report an invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by NVT multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. pneumoniae transmitted from a vaccinated infant to an unvaccinated healthy woman, and the clinical characteristics of this serotype. A 29-year-old previously healthy woman visited our hospital with fever and headache. She had been breastfeeding her baby for 8 months. She was diagnosed with brain abscess and sinusitis caused by S. pneumoniae. Although the patient had no previous exposure to antibiotics, antibiotic susceptibility test identified the pathogen as MDR. The patient's family members were examined using nasopharyngeal swabs for bacterial culture. The serotype of S. pneumoniae identified from the blood, abscess, and sputum of the patient was 15B/C. After investing the patient's family members, we found that the serotype from nasopharyngeal specimen of her baby was the same. We described an invasive MDR pneumococcal disease in an immunocompetent young adult in the community. IPD likely spread to the patient by close contact with her baby, who harbored S. pneumoniae of NVT. The spread of NVT S. pneumoniae in the post-vaccine era has increased in the community, and resistance pattern for S. pneumoniae of 15B/C changed compared to the pre-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine era. The spread of MDR pathogens causing IPD among family members should be monitored.
Abscess ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain Abscess ; Breast Feeding ; Child ; Epidural Abscess ; Female ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Pneumonia ; Serogroup ; Sinusitis ; Sputum ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Streptococcus ; Vaccination ; Young Adult

Cellulitis, one of most common diseases of everyday life, is often overlooked for its significance. Although cellulitis does not cause or lead to serious problems usually, its possibility to cause life-threatening problem should be known. In present case, a patient who had received acupuncture treatment a week earlier presented to the clinic with symptoms of facial cellulitis. The disease resolved within few weeks under empirical antibiotic treatment but recurred after 3 months. Under close history review of the patient, we found out that the patient had received craniectomy 20 years ago. The patient had blunt headache with no other neurological symptoms that could suspect cranial infection, but considering the risk originating from the patient’s surgical history, brain computed tomography (CT) was taken. CT images revealed abscess formation in the subgaleal and epidural spaces. Craniotomy with abscess evacuation was done promptly. With additional antibiotic treatment postoperatively, the disease resolved, and the 1-month postoperative follow-up brain CT showed no signs of abscess formation.
Abscess ; Acupuncture ; Brain ; Cellulitis ; Craniotomy ; Empyema ; Epidural Abscess ; Epidural Space ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PURPOSE: To describe our experience in the management and outcomes of vertebral column osteomyelitis (VCO), particularly focusing on the risk factors of early and late mortality. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Previous reports suggest a global increase in spinal column infections highlighting significant morbidity and mortality. To date, there have been no reports from our local population, and no previous report has assessed the potential relationship of frailty with mortality in a cohort of patients with VCO. METHODS: We reviewed 76 consecutive patients with VCO between 2009 and 2016 in Waikato Hospital, New Zealand. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, and treatment data were collected. Comorbidities were noted to calculate the modified Frailty Index (mFI). Mortality at 30 days and 1 year was recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the predictors of mortality. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64.1 years, with 77.6% being male. Most patients presented with axial back pain (71.1%), with the lumbar spine most commonly affected (46%). A mean of 2.1 vertebral bodies was involved. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism of infection (35.5%), and 15.8% of patients exhibited polymicrobial infection. Twenty patients (26.3%) underwent surgical intervention, which was more likely in patients with concomitant spinal epidural abscess (odds ratio [OR], 4.88) or spondylodiscitis (OR, 3.81). Mortality rate was 5.2% at 30 days and 22.3% at 1 year. The presence of frailty (OR, 13.62) and chronic renal failure (OR, 13.40) elevated the 30-day mortality risk only in univariate analysis. An increase in age (OR, 1.07) and the number of vertebral levels (OR, 2.30) elevated the 1-year mortality risk in both univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Although the mFI correlated with 30-day mortality in univariate analysis, it was not a significant predictor in multivariate analysis. An increase in age and the number of levels involved elevated the 1-year mortality risk.
Adult ; Back Pain ; Cohort Studies ; Coinfection ; Comorbidity ; Discitis ; Epidural Abscess ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; New Zealand ; Osteomyelitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Staphylococcus aureus

OBJECTIVE: Acute hemiparesis is often an early presentation of acute ischemic stroke, though it can occur in various disorders. This study aimed to investigate the improper use of thrombolytic agents for patients with acute hemiparesis, following the misdiagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical and radiological data of nine patients initially misdiagnosed with cerebral stroke in the emergency room from May 2013 to January 2017. All the patients were treated with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) owing to the presence of acute hemiparesis. Subsequently, emergent computed tomography scan showed no intracranial hemorrhage. Clinical findings including neurological deficits, clinical course, and related complications were detected and analyzed. RESULTS: Acute hemiparesis was observed in the following conditions: spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma, Brown-Séquard syndrome caused by cervical disc herniation, cervical epidural abscess, hypoglycemia in the presence of an old stroke, and seizure or convulsion disorder. Although acute hemiparesis was regarded as a contraindication, inappropriate TPA administration did not aggravate the neurological condition in any of the patients who required surgery. CONCLUSION: Upon presentation of acute hemiparesis, various conditions mimicking cerebral stroke should be considered to avoid misdiagnosis. We suggest that physicians should exercise caution when prescribing thrombolytic agents.
Diagnostic Errors* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epidural Abscess ; Fibrinolytic Agents* ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Paresis* ; Seizures ; Stroke* ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator