Epidural abscesses are formed when an infection occurs between the spinal cord’s top layer and the bones of the spine. The buildup of pus puts pressure on the spine as it fills the space between the cord and the vertebrae, leading to a number of severe medical effects. As the infection spreads, it can infect the spinal cord itself—leading to a spinal cord abscess.
Inflammation caused by an epidural abscess can hinder the travel of signals from the top of the spine to the limbs. As a result, patients with spinal cord abscesses find themselves unable to walk or control their bladders or bowels. One of the most terrifying effects of a spinal cord abscess is paralysis below the point of infection.
If you or a loved one suffered an abscess after physical trauma or a back surgery, call Hampton & King to get answers about what happened.
Our licensed medical professionals on staff can hear your story and give you an objective account of what likely occurred and why. Call (713) 658-0231 or contact us online for a free consultation.
What Causes Epidural Infection & Spinal Cord Abscess?
The most common cause of any spinal cord infection is the presence of bacteria near your spinal cord. The bacteria that cause strep throat and staph infections are the most likely culprits behind a spinal cord abscess. However, other common causes include blood infections (which can spread to the spine) and boils that form on your back.
When spinal cord abscesses occur due to medical malpractice, it’s usually because a doctor allowed your spine to be exposed to bacteria during an open back surgery or a lumbar puncture. The “normal” causes mentioned above could also be caused by medical malpractice, so a spinal cord abscess might also be the indirect result of medical malpractice.
Symptoms of an Epidural Abscess
You’re more likely to develop an epidural abscess if you have diabetes, if you have Crohn’s disease (which causes infections to burst in your gastrointestinal tract), if you have an immunodeficiency disorder, or if you have been using anticoagulants for a long time.
Anything that can affect your ability to fight off infection (such as AIDS or similar conditions) will put you at a higher risk for epidural infections.
If you have an epidural abscess, you’ll experience some of the following:
- Fever and chills
- Loss of bowel control
- Loss of motor control under the abscess
- Radiating back pain in the lower back
- Rapidly progressing limb weakness
- Loss of sensation below the abscess
Spinal cord abscesses are rare, but epidural infections are less so. In both cases, finding out the reason it happened and who was responsible requires the help of legal and medical professionals.
Medical Malpractice Attorneys & Licensed Doctors
Hampton & King is one of the only law firms in Texas and New Mexico to be solely committed to medical malpractice cases, and we are one of the only firms nationwide to have a licensed physician employed full-time on staff. As a result, we’ve won millions of dollars for our clients in hundreds of medical malpractice cases.
Call (713) 658-0231 or contact us online to speak with our staff. They can help you understand your injuries, what caused them, and how we can help you fight for the financial support you deserve.