Surgical management of cervical spinal epidural abscesses

Infections involving the epidural space of the spinal canal are rare, yet potentially devastating entities. The incidence of spontaneous epidural abscesses ranges from 0.2 to 1.3 per 10,000 hospital admissions, most commonly affecting those who are immunosuppressed. The overall incidence of epidural abscesses has been found to be on the rise in recent years, due in part to the overall aging of the population, increasing medical use of potent immunosuppressants, increasing numbers of interventional procedures involving the spinal column, and increasing rates of intravenous drug abuse. The cervical spine is affected in approximately 20% of spinal epidural abscesses and is the least commonly affected vertebral region. In this article we review the clinical presentation and surgical management of epidural abscesses involving the cervical spine.