A spinal abscess may cause local or radiating back pain, fever, and neurological symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital for improving a person’s outlook.

A spinal cord abscess involves a buildup of pus in the spine. This can occur when bacteria enter the spine and lead to an infection. In some cases, bacteria may travel from an infection elsewhere in the body, but in other cases, there may be no apparent cause.

Doctors may be able to treat spinal abscesses with antibiotics. However, some people may need a combination of antibiotic treatment and surgical drainage.

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Symptoms of a spinal abscess can varyTrusted Source and may depend on its progression. People may experience pain and tenderness in the back and a fever.

Back pain and tenderness may worsen as the abscess and infection progress or when lying down.

As the condition progresses, people may also experience neurological issues that doctors associate with spinal cord compression, such as:

Spinal abscesses occur when bacteria enter the spine and lead to an infection involving a buildup of pus. They are most often due to Staphylococcus aureus or E. coli bacterial infections.

The type of abscess may depend on the area the infection affects. For example, a spinal epidural abscess occurs when an infection develops in space around the spinal dura, a membrane that protects the spinal cord.

In a subdural abscess, the infection develops between the spinal dura and the membrane around the spinal cord called the arachnoid. An intramedullary abscess is an infection within the spinal cord’s primary tissue.

A spinal abscess can occur if bacteria spread through the blood from a distant infection, such as a skin abscess, or from a nearby infection, such as vertebral osteomyelitis — another type of spinal infection.

In some cases, bacteria may enter this space directly, such as through surgical or other invasive procedures.

In around 20%Trusted Source of spinal epidural abscess cases, doctors cannot identify an apparent cause.

Risk factors for a spinal abscess

Certain people may haveTrusted Source a higher risk of spinal abscesses, including those who:

When diagnosing a spinal abscess, doctors will askTrusted Source about a person’s symptoms and risk factors.

They will also typically use an MRI scan and potentially other imaging tests, such as a CT scan, to locate the abscess. They may order these imaging tests when someone has unexplained back pain and risk factors for a spinal abscess.

A doctor may also order blood cultures, which are tests that look for bacteria in a person’s blood.

Treatment for a spinal abscess may depend on the progression of the condition and a person’s symptoms. However, interventions will typically involveTrusted Source antibiotics and surgical drainage involving spinal decompression and tissue removal.

Doctors may be able to treat a spinal abscess with antibiotics alone if:

  • the affected person does not have neurological symptoms
  • there is a bacteria that is clearly causing the abscess in blood culture tests
  • they are able to strictly monitor the person

A doctor may also use antibiotic treatment alone if an individual cannot have surgery or is an unsuitable candidate for surgical intervention.

Antibiotic treatment may last from 4 to 8 weeks.

People may also need to undergo follow-up lab and imaging tests after treatment to ensure the infection does not remain.

Complications of a spinal abscess may include the followingTrusted Source:

In some cases, these complications can be fatal. However, progression in treatments has helped reduce the mortality rate of spinal abscesses.

Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent complications and to improve a person’s outlook.

However, treatment success rates may be lower in those over the age of 65 or people with neurological symptoms or diabetes.

An early diagnosis is vitalTrusted Source for improving treatment success and reducing the risk of potentially life threatening complications.

People need to contact a doctor if they experience symptoms such as back pain and fever, especially if they have risk factors for a spinal abscess. Risk factors include a weakened immune system, recent penetration to the area, and intravenous drug use.

People with neurological symptoms should seek an urgent doctor’s appointment.

How serious is a spinal abscess?

Advances in treatments have improvedTrusted Source the mortality rates of spinal abscesses. However, it is still vital for people to seek a diagnosis as soon as possible.

Delays in diagnosis and treatment may increase the risk of treatment failure, potentially life threatening complications, such as sepsis, and permanent effects, including paralysis.

How long does it take to recover from a spinal abscess?

Recovery timelines may depend onTrusted Source the type of treatment a person has, the progression of the abscess, and individual factors, including age, comorbidities, and health status.

Can antibiotics cure a spinal abscess?

Antibiotics may be able toTrusted Source treat a spinal abscess if a person receives an early diagnosis and there are no neurological symptoms. However, some people may also require surgery to drain the abscess.

A spinal cord abscess can cause back pain and a fever in the early stages. As it progresses, people may experience neurological symptoms, including weakness and bowel incontinence.

Abscesses may occur when bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus or E. coli, enter the spine and lead to an infection and buildup of pus.

Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to improve a person’s outlook. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics or recommend surgery to drain the abscess.