Hospital-Acquired Sacral Pressure Ulcer Complicated by a Spinal Epidural Abscess

TL;DR

A rare case is presented where a hospital-acquired pressure ulcer led to a spinal epidural abscess, requiring urgent treatment.

Contribution

The paper highlights a rare complication of a hospital-acquired pressure ulcer leading to a spinal epidural abscess.

Findings

A spinal epidural abscess can develop from a hospital-acquired pressure ulcer.

The condition was further complicated by bacteremia.

Timely decompression and antibiotic therapy are critical for treatment.

Abstract

A spinal epidural abscess is a rare condition characterized by the accumulation of pus between the dura mater and vertebral column, often caused by hematogenous spread from a distant site or local spread from infection in nearby structures. The abscess leads to compression of the spinal cord and can result in neurological damage, including dysfunction or permanent neurological deficits. Treatment of spinal epidural abscesses should not be delayed and requires a combination of decompression by surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy. The authors present a rare case in which a spinal epidural abscess developed from a hospital-acquired pressure ulcer, further complicated by bacteremia.

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