In the world of medicine, there are some diagnoses with presentations so stereotypical that it can be safely said, If you ve seen one, you ve seen them all. Such is not the case with spinal epidural abscess (SEA). In its early stages, the diagnosis of SEA often eludes even the most astute clinicians. Over the past two decades, the incidence of SEA has reportedly doubled, attributed to an aging population, increased spinal procedures and vascular access, and the spread of IV drug use. SEA is a high-risk diagnosis for all practitioners, particularly in the emergency department, primary care, and other acute care settings. Medical errors in these cases can result in severe disability or death, with associated lawsuits often carrying exceptionally high costs. In this activity, we review key information about SEA that was presented in the activity Spinal Epidural Abscess (e.g., definition, location, pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for formation, risk factors, etc.) and then present and discuss three cases in order to examine some of the most common reasons the diagnosis of SEA is delayed, missed, or inappropriately managed. After completing this activity, practitioners and the healthcare team should be able to: assess the risk factors for spinal epidural abscess in patients presenting with back or neck pain; apply an understanding of the 4-stage progression of symptoms often seen in patients with spinal epidural abscess in order to more rapidly diagnose this condition; perform and document a complete spine neurologic examination when considering the possibility of spinal pathology; and apply an understanding of the key risk and documentation issues related to spinal epidural abscess in order to improve patient care and reduce the potential for litigation.
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- Case-based learning
- Credit · Up to 2 credits
- Fee · varies
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ReleasedSep 23, 2025
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Last day to claim creditSep 23, 2028 2 years left
