A spinal epidural abscess can be staged based on clinical findings.
Clinical Findings |
Stage |
back pain at the level of the affected spine |
1 |
radiating nerve-root pain starting at the affected spinal level |
2 |
sensory deficit; motor deficit; bladder and bowel dysfunction |
3 |
paralysis with eventual paraplegia |
4 |
Fever is often present but may be absent or low grade.
The "classic triad" of fever, back pain and neurologic deficits is present in only a small percent of patients.
Pain may radiate down the arms or legs but also may be limited to the back and trunk.
Laboratory findings may include:
(1) leukocytosis
(2) elevated C-reactive protein (CRP)
(3) elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Specialty: Infectious Diseases