Podcast # 360: Epidural Abscess Screening
Emergency Medical Minute · medicalminute
August 2, 20184m 47s
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Show Notes
Author: Dylan Luyten, MD.
Educational Pearls:
- Dangerous causes of back pain: AAA, cauda equina syndrome, epidural abscess.
- Young person with back pain needs to be evaluated for injection drug use (major risk factor).
- Patient with focal neurologic deficits (FND) require an MRI. Patients without FND can be screened with ESR and CRP. An ESR
- Treatment is IV antibiotics and surgical debridement.
References
Davis DP et al. Prospective evaluation of a clinical decision guideline to diagnose spinal epidural abscess in patients who present to the emergency department with spine pain, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2011. 14:765-770.