Diagnosis and treatment of spinal epidural abscess.

Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon disease. The medical literature emph asizes the importance of its timely recognition and treatment. Three patien ts admitted in our hospital are presented. None of them was diagnosed on am bulatory bases. All of them were admitted because of spinal ache and two of them also had fever. Magnetic resonance imaging yielded the correct diagno sis in all cases and was very effective in delineating the extent of the le sion. We used antimicrobial therapy directed against the bacteria identifie d by cultures as well as surgical drainage in all cases. The three patients had a good outcome and no neurologic sequela. Early recognition, proper mi crobiologic diagnosis and surgical drainage are the main criteria for the c urrent management of spinal epidural abscess.