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Septic arthritis in a lumbar facet joint: a rare cause of an epidural abscess

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

A 10-year-old boy presented with a 7-day history of back pain and pyrexia. MRI showed an epidural abscess arising from septic arthritis in a lumbar facet joint. Whilst septic arthritis in a large joint is relatively common in children, epidural abscess is rare. This case illustrates how infection in a synovial joint may extend into the extradural space and might be the route of infection in more cases than has previously been recognised.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, Atkinson Morley's Hospital, Wimbledon, London, UK

    S. D. Heenan & J. Britton

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  1. S. D. Heenan
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  2. J. Britton
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Heenan, S.D., Britton, J. Septic arthritis in a lumbar facet joint: a rare cause of an epidural abscess. Neuroradiology 37, 462–464 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00600094

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00600094

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