Spinal epidural abscess is a severe, generally pyogenic, infection of the epidural space of spinal cord or cauda equina. The swelling caused by the abscess leads to compression or vascular disruption of neurological structures that requires urgent surgical decompression to avoid significant permanent disability. We share a rare case of Klebsiella pneumoniae spinal epidural abscess secondary to haematogenous spread of previous lung infection that presented late at our centre with cauda equina syndrome that showed good short-term outcome in delayed decompression. A 50-year old female presented with one-week history of persistent low back pain with progressively worsening bilateral lower limb weakness for seven days and urinary retention associated with saddle anesthesia of 2-day duration. Magnetic resonance imaging with contrast of the lumbo-sacral region showed an intramuscular collection of abscess at left gluteus maximus and left multifidus muscle with a L3-L5 posteriorly placed extradural lesion enhancing peripherally on contrast, suggestive of epidural abscess that compressed the cauda equina. The pus was drained using the posterior lumbar approach. Tissue and pus culture revealed Klebsiella pneumoniae, suggestive of bacterial infection. The patient made immediate improvement of muscle power over bilateral lower limbs postoperative followed by ability to control micturition and defecation the 4th post-operative day. A good short-term outcome in delayed decompression of cauda equine syndrome is extremely rare. Aggressive surgical decompression combined with antibiotic therapy led to good short-term outcome in this patient despite delayed decompression of more than 48 hours.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the spine frequently presents as a solitary lesion and rarely results in neurological deficit. Involvement of thyroid tissue is also rare, even in multifocal disease presentations. We present an unusual variant of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in a 37-year-old man presenting with profound quadriparesis and incidental thyroid involvement. MR imaging and skeletal radiographs revealed widespread involvement of the spine. The patient underwent surgical resection of the tumour and stabilization of the spine. Diagnosis was confirmed by histological and immunohistochemistry analysis. Langerhans cell histiocytosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of radiolucent lesions of the spine in adults.
Spinal neurofibromas occur sporadically and typically occur in association with neurofibromatosis 1. Patients afflicted with neurofibromatosis 1 usually present with involvement of several nerve roots. This report describes the case of a 14- year-old child with a large intraspinal, but extradural tumour with paraspinal extension, dumbbell neurofibroma of the cervical region extending from the C2 to C4 vertebrae. The lesions were readily detected by MR imaging and were successfully resected in a two-stage surgery. The time interval between the first and second surgery was one month. We provide a brief review of the literature regarding various surgical approaches, emphasising the utility of anterior and posterior approaches.
Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the most common organisms isolated in diabetic foot infection and the most utilised antibiotic regimes as the first line of treatment.
Methods: This is a retrospective record review of the National Orthopaedic Registry Malaysia among diabetes mellitus type 2 patients who had foot infections. All identified cases admitted to 18 government hospitals in Malaysia from the 1st January 2008 until the 31st December, 2009 were included in the study.
Results: A total of 416 patients were included in the study. The most common organisms cultured were Proteus species (17.5%), Klebsiella species (17.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (17.9%), while the most commonly used antibiotic was ampicillin/sulbactam (67.5%). None of the patients was appropriately treated with metronidazole, cefoperazone or fucidic acid. All patients were given appropriate antibiotics to treat Serratia infection.
Conclusion: Significant number of patients with diabetic foot infections were not treated using appropriate antibiotics as the first line treatment.
Sacroilliac joint diasthesis from high energy trauma is always complicated with chronic pain and long term morbidity. Open anterior stabilisation with plate allow direct reduction and stabilisation with biomechanically advantages. Here we report on four cases of pelvic injury with sacroiliac joint disruption treated with anterior plate stabilisation through a surgical approach similar to that used for anterior ring fractures.
The incidence of hip fractures is increasing within the aging population.We determined the risk factors of in-hospital mortality following hip fracture across major hospitals in Malaysia. This is a retrospective cohort review from 18 hospitals across Malaysia in National Orthopaedic Registry of Malaysia (NORM) . We collected demographic data, prefracture co-morbidities, previous hip fracture, pre-fracture walking ability, fracture type and stability, mechanism of injury, type of management (operative or non-operative), operation types and grade of surgeon. Between 2008 and 2009, 685 patients were admitted with a hip fracture to 18 government hospitals with orthopaedic service. The overall in-hospital mortality was 2.2%. We found more in-hospital mortality in elderly patients and patients with eye and hearing problems as pre-fracture morbidity. In conclusion, patients who were elderly with multiple comorbidities especially those with eye and hearing impairment were had higher risk for immediate mortality