Spondilodiscitis and lumbar epidural abscess occurring after orthopedic epidural anesthesia: A case report

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare complication of epidural catheterization with an estimated incidence of 0.2 to 2;8 cases per 10,000 per year, with the peak incidence occurring in patients in their 60's and 70's. Delay in diagnosis or treatment may have devastating consequences, resulting in severe and irreversible neurological impairment or even death. We present a patient with lumbar vertebral osteomyelitis, discitis, and epidural abscess who complained of persistent low back pain for 4 months after epidural anesthesia for an orthopedic procedure.