Clinical Pain

Korean Association of Pain Medicine (대한임상통증학회)
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Delayed Postoperative Paravertebral Abscess in a Patient with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Accompanied by Ankylosing Spondylitis

강직성 척수염이 있는 경수 손상 환자에서 발생한 지연성 척추주위 농양

  • Lee, Geon Jae (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Jang Woo (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital)
  • 이건재 (국민건강보험 일산병원 재활의학과) ;
  • 이장우 (국민건강보험 일산병원 재활의학과)
  • Received : 2021.09.23
  • Accepted : 2021.10.26
  • Published : 2021.12.31
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Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease presenting progressive spinal stiffness and sacroiliitis. Cervical spine fracture combined with AS should be treated with operation, but it is closely related with increased rates of surgical site infection, which are associated with an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and elevated C-reactive protein. We report a case of delayed postoperative infection appeared in cervical paravertebral space, which was masked by laboratory findings and clinical characteristics represented in this rheumatic disease. A 53-year-old man who had medical history of AS got operation after cervical spine fracture. During hospitalization, he experienced aching pain originating from left posterior neck to shoulder, which was revealed out to be delayed postoperative infection, diagnostically obscured by elevated values of inflammatory markers. This case emphasizes detailed evaluation considering symptoms and comorbidity of the patient should be performed to apply proper management.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank the patient who kindly agreed to his data being used for this research.

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