Psoas abscess: an uncommon disorder.

BACKGROUND: Psoas abscess (PA) is an uncommon disease that has been increasingly reported in the recent years. We reviewed patients with PA and analyzed their clinical characteristics to improve our understanding of this rare disorder. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentations, microbiology, and outcomes of patients with PA between 2011 and 2022 at the Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital in China. RESULTS: There were 40 adult patients identified with the discharge diagnosis of PA. The mean age was 60 years, and 67.5% of the patients were male. Primary symptoms were typically nonspecific. In all, 20 abscesses were considered secondary, and the most common was infective spondylitis. The most common causative organism for primary PA was Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli, whereas multiple bacterial species were found in secondary abscesses. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 5%. Patients with secondary PA had a longer hospital stay. CONCLUSION: PA, as a serious infectious condition, usually presents with nonspecific symptoms and laboratory test results, making early diagnosis difficult. These profiles differed from those reported in the present study. The initial clinical status and subsequent imaging studies can lead to favorable outcomes.

Psoas abscess in pregnancy: a review of the literature and suggestion of minimally invasive treatment options.

AIM: Less than a dozen cases of psoas abscesses in pregnancy have been described in the literature. We reviewed the literature when treating a patient with a psoas abscess after ipsilateral double J-ureteral stent placement (in the following: "double J-stent") due to infected hydronephrosis. METHODS: In January 2022, this review was searched using the Pubmed/MEDLINE database and the mesh terms "Psoas Abscess" AND "Pregnancy". Studies were included in any language and of all years, describing a psoas abscess during pregnancy. When patients did not have a psoas abscess, the abscess occurred after pregnancy, or when there was no full text available, the article was excluded. MAIN RESULTS: Ten case reports about patients with psoas abscesses during pregnancy were included. The classical symptomatic triad of psoas muscle abscess included lower back pain, limping and persistent fever with daily spikes. However, in most cases, not all three symptoms can be found. Especially, fever is absent in more than half of the patients. Psoas abscesses are described between 13 and 39 weeks of gestation. Primary psoas abscesses with haematogenous spread are more common during pregnancy than secondary with spread per continuitatem. In the literature, the main reasons for psoas abscess are spinal tuberculosis, drug abuse or underlying diseases such as Crohn's disease. It is not uncommon for the definite cause to be unclear. Regarding the patient's symptoms, pyelonephritis is often considered a possible aetiology. In general, the main treatment options include antibiotic treatment and abscess drainage. There is no higher caesarean section rate, and no negative outcome for the foetus has been described. CASE PRESENTATION: In our patient, a 38-year-old obese Caucasian woman, who had received a left double J-stent for infected hydronephrosis at 15 weeks of gestation, we successfully treated a psoas abscess of 20 × 10 cm with a sonographically assisted abscess drainage and antibiotics. The further course of pregnancy and the elective repeat caesarean section at 38 + 0 weeks of gestation were without any problems. Double J-stent placement and laser stone lithotripsy during puerperium were performed because of recurrent urolithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, psoas abscesses can occur during pregnancy, and it has often been treated surgically in the past. A psoas abscess as a complication after infected hydronephrosis and intervention during pregnancy has never been reported in the literature. Even for obese patients, minimally invasive therapy may be a treatment option that has rarely been reported in the literature.

Multifocal emphysematous osteomyelitis, a do not miss diagnosis for the emergency radiologist: a case report with literature review.

Emphysematous osteomyelitis (EO) is an uncommon fatal condition with high morbidity and mortality. Simultaneous involvement of the axial and appendicular skeleton with multifocal disease is even rarer, with only a few cases being reported in the literature. We present a case of multifocal emphysematous osteomyelitis in a 56-year-old woman with concurrent emphysematous pyelonephritis complicated by psoas and epidural abscesses. The causative organism in our patient was Escherichia coli. Emergency radiologists should be aware of this condition and differentiate it from other benign entities that can present with intraosseous gas. Prompt diagnosis is important given the high morbidity and mortality with this condition. This case report emphasizes the specific pattern of intraosseous gas seen with EO, which can help diagnose EO with confidence.

Clinical features and outcome of vertebral osteomyelitis after spinal injection: is it worth the price?

PURPOSE: Spinal injections are increasingly used for back pain treatment. Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) after spinal injection (SIVO) is rare, but patient characteristics and outcome have not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to assess patient characteristics of SIVO in comparison to patients with native vertebral osteomyelitis (NVO) and to determine predictors for 1-year survival. METHODS: This is a single-center cohort study from a tertiary referral hospital. This is a retrospective analysis of Patients with VO who were prospectively enrolled into a spine registry from 2008 to 2019. Student's t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test or Chi-square test were applied for group comparisons. Survival analysis was performed using a log-rank test and a multivariable Cox regression model. RESULTS: 283 VO patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 44 (15.5%) had SIVO and 239 (84.5%) NVO. Patients with SIVO were significantly younger, had a lower Charlson comorbidity index and a shorter hospital stay compared to NVO. They also showed a higher rate of psoas abscesses and spinal empyema (38.6% [SIVO] vs. 20.9% [NVO]). Staphylococcus aureus (27%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (25%) were equally often detected in SIVO while S. aureus was more frequently than CNS in NVO (38.1% vs. 7.9%).Patients with SIVO (P = 0.04) had a higher 1-year survival rate (Fig. 1). After multivariate analysis, ASA score was associated with a lower 1-year survival in VO. CONCLUSION: The results from this study emphasize unique clinical features of SIVO, which warrant that SIVO should be estimated as a separate entity of VO.

Extensive direct spreading of "groin hit"-related soft tissue infections: a report of three cases.

We present fatal extensive soft tissue infections, a consequence of groin heroin injection, in three subjects, who were 27, 34, and 39 years old and had a history of over 10-, 15-, and 5-years of heroin injection (cases 1, 2, and 3, respectively). In all cases, the first symptoms of the infection appeared at least a week prior, with rapid deterioration on the last day. The hallmark was a disproportion between external and internal findings in the affected thighs. The latter presented as extensively spread suppurative inflammation with soft tissue necrosis. In case 1, subtle skin erythema was present in the left groin, with a wound suggestive of a recent abscess incision and injection-related scarring. However, dissection revealed that inguinal regions and deep soft tissue (including the muscle sheets) of the left thigh, gluteal region, and lower third of the anterior abdominal wall were inflamed with pus, alongside fibrinopurulent peritonitis. Case 2 had pronounced erythema and swelling of the thigh and knee. Diffuse suppuration was observed upon dissection in the inguinal regions, which extended into the iliopsoas muscles, with soft tissue and muscle necrosis. In the abdominal cavity, we detected 150 mL of serofibrinous exudate. Only case 3 had a prominent, 4 × 3.5-cm necrotic skin defect through which pus spontaneously drained. In contrast to the other two, although extensive pus collection within predominantly necrotic thigh's soft tissue was present, the inflammation did not expand above the inguinal ligament, and peritonitis was not observed. Toxicology analysis excluded acute heroin intoxications.

Pott's disease associated with bilateral psoas abscess: a case report on surgical management using anterior approach.

Pott's disease may accompany psoas abscesses, but bilateral psoas abscess is rarely encountered. Computerised Tomography (CT) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of psoas abscesses. Treatment of psoas abscess usually involves drainage of abscess and antibiotic therapy. CT and USG-guided catheters are often utilised for abscess drainage. In cases where neurological symptoms are observed, open surgery may be required. Pott's disease accompanied by bilateral psoas abscess was detected in a 21-year-old male patient who was admitted to the clinic with complaints of low back pain and weakness in his left leg at the Selcuk University, Turkey, in 2018. The reason for the development of neurological deficit only on the left side was the compression of the nerve roots by the abscess tissue. The patient underwent debridement and anterior instrumentation with an anterior approach. In the postoperative follow-up it was observed that the patient's complaints were relieved. Pott's disease with bilateral psoas abscesses, in which debridement and instrumentation with an anterior approach is applied, has not been previously reported in the literature, and the current case is a first in this respect.

A missed psoas abscess diagnosis: A forensic case report.

Psoas abscess is a rare pathology that usually presents with non-specific signs and rare clinical features. These characteristics can delay the diagnosis leading to complications and death. We report a forensic autopsy case of a 65-year-old male, alcoholic, smoker, with a history of hypertension, and urinary infection, who presented to the emergency room for anorexia and consciousness disorder. On physical examination, the patient was febrile and confused. Laboratory exams revealed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Two days later, he died despite extensive resuscitation. Forensic autopsy revealed a large amount of green pus in the left psoas muscle extending to the muscles of the thigh of the same side with multiple cavities. The pus extended to the left kidney with destructive parenchyma and coralliform lithiasis. Histological examination showed destroyed renal tissue by lesions of chronic and acute pyelonephritis with dilatation of the pyelocaliceal cavities. Bacteriological analysis of the pus showed the presence of Escherichia coli. The psoas abscess was secondary to pyonephrosis favored by the immunodeficiency. Thus, death was attributed to a septic shock secondary to a psoas abscess complicating pyonephrosis.

Transverse process osteotomy for surgical drainage of primary iliopsoas abscess and secondary cases combined with spondylodiscitis.

Iliopsoas abscess refers to collection of fluid in iliopsoas muscle compartment. It is well-known condition in medical history as a complication of tuberculous spine infection. Most of the cases now are due to pyogenic infection. Patient usually presents late due to delayed diagnosis. We aim to present a less invasive technique for surgical drainage of iliopsoas abscess. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a prospective study done between 2015 and 2018. The study included 28 patients with confirmed diagnosis of iliopsoas abscess. Laboratory investigations included CBC, ESR, and C-reactive protein that were done for all patients. MRI with contrast enhancement was gold standard for diagnosis. Ten patients underwent surgical psoas abscess drainage by transverse process osteotomy via Wiltse approach without any other spine intervention. Eighteen patients had posterior spine fixation and interbody fusion together with transverse process osteotomy and abscess drainage as treatment for spondylodiscitis. The patients were followed up for clinical improvement, and functional assessment was done by Oswestry disability index. ESR and CRP were used for laboratory follow-up of infection subsidence. Follow-up of abscess size and resolution was done by pelvic-abdominal ultrasonography. RESULTS: The mean maximum width of the abscesses in MRI axial views was 38.8 mm. Patients were divided into two groups. Group (1) included ten patients who underwent drainage only while group (2) included 18 patients who underwent spine fusion for treatment of spondylodiscitis. The amount of pus drained intra-operatively was of average 234 cc in group 1 and 191.6 in group 2. The drain was removed in average 58.6 hours post-operatively in group 1 with mean of 168.4 cc of drained fluid and in average of 74.3 hours for group 2 with mean of 350.5 cc of drained fluid. The ODI and inflammatory markers improved in all patients. The follow-up period was of average 26.7 months. The organism was isolated from 19 patients (5 patients were tuberculous and 14 patients were different pyogenic pathogens). No fluid recollection was observed in pelvic-abdominal ultrasound during follow-up in our series. CONCLUSION: Transverse process osteotomy is a safe and effective approach for drainage of psoas abscess. It can be done alone or combined with posterior spine fusion for treatment of spondylodiscitis.

[Purulent iliopsoitis: etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and surgical treatment]. / Gnoinyi iliopsoit: etiopatogenez, diagnostika, khirurgicheskoe lechenie.

Purulent iliopsoitis is a quite rare and difficult disease regarding diagnosis and treatment. However, treatment outcomes are not so favorable, incidence of sepsis and mortality are still extremely high. Original up-to-date studies devoted to this issue were analyzed. The authors discuss the actual problems of etiology, pathogenesis, classification, clinical features, diagnosis and surgical treatment of iliopsoitis. Considering these data, they conclude that timely diagnosis and adequate surgical treatment are essential for favorable outcomes. Prevention of relapse is based on detection of possible cause of disease and its possible correction.

Minimally invasive surgery for paravertebral or psoas abscess with spinal tuberculosis - a long-term retrospective study of 106 cases.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a common treatment option for paravertebral or psoas abscesses (PAs) in patients with spinal tuberculosis (ST). However, its efficacy remains controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of MIS for PA with ST combined with anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 106 consecutive patients who underwent MIS for ST with PA from January 2002 to Oct 2012 were reviewed. The MIS involved computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous catheter drainage and percutaneous catheter infusion chemotherapy. Clinical outcomes were evaluated based on the changes observed on preoperative and postoperative physical examination, inflammatory marker testing, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 7.21 ± 3.15 years. All surgeries were successfully completed under CT-guidance without intraoperative complications and all patients experienced immediate relief of their symptoms, which included fever and back pain. The preoperatively elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein values returned to normal at a mean period of 3 months postoperatively. Solid bony union was observed in 106 patients and no abscesses were found on MRI examination. CONCLUSION: MIS carries advantages in terms of less invasiveness, precise drainage, and enhanced local drug concentration. While the technique has not been fully characterized and clinically prove, its use in addition to conservative chemotherapy and open debridement and instrumental fixation may be recommended for patients with ST and PA.

Severe Disseminated Infection with Emerging Lineage of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.

We report a case of severe disseminated infection in an immunocompetent man caused by an emerging lineage of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex 398. Genes encoding classic virulence factors were absent. The patient made a slow recovery after multiple surgical interventions and a protracted course of intravenous flucloxacillin.

Pyogenic spondylitis and paravertebral abscess caused by Salmonella Saintpaul in an immunocompetent 13-year-old child: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella spondylitis is an uncommon complication of Salmonella infection in immunocompetent children. To prevent treatment failure and neurological deficits, it needs prompt diagnosis and sufficient effort to identify the causative organism. There are some options to identify the causative organism such as Computed Tomography (CT) guided biopsy or surgical debridement, however when to perform these invasive interventions remains controversial. CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old boy presented with occasional high fever and lower back pain. He was diagnosed with spondylitis of the L4-5 vertebral bodies and paravertebral abscess. Initial blood cultures were negative, therefore empirical antibiotic treatment was started. He responded well to conservative management, and was discharged after clinical improvement. However, he was re-hospitalized 2 weeks after discharge, and surgical debridement was performed which led to the detection of Salmonella Saintpaul as the causative pathogen. It was revealed that the possible source of infection was consumption of raw poultry eggs, or contact with poultry. Definitive antibiotic therapy was started. He was discharged with good recovery after a 6-week hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: This is the very first case report of pyogenic spondylitis caused by Salmonella Saintpaul. Salmonella should be considered as a causative pathogen of pyogenic spondylitis in immunocompetent children. Identifying the causative organism is essential to prevent treatment failure, and a high index of suspicion is needed for prompt diagnosis especially when blood cultures are negative. Invasive interventions such as CT-guided biopsy should be considered even if the clinical course seems to be uncomplicated.

Melioidosis mimicking tuberculous vertebral osteitis: Case report and review of literature.

Whitmore's disease or melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. The reported cases are but the tip of the iceberg. This pathogenic saprophyte is commonly found in wet soil and water. An accidental or occupational exposure (in field workers, farmers, gardeners or villagers) to B. pseudomallei contaminated soil or pooled water is the primary source of infection. Neurosurgeons need to consider this as a possible rare cause of back pain and possible neurological deterioration. A diabetic type 2 rice farmer with severe lumbago and fever, misdiagnosed as vertebral tuberculous osteitis based on his radiological findings, was confirmed to harbour Burkholderia Pseudomallei, which was diagnosed using laboratory cultures. He made a remarkable recovery with antibiotic therapy. The empiric anti-tuberculous (ATT) drugs were stopped. The rare differential diagnosis of melioidosis should be thought of in diabetic patients with a psoas abscess and vertebral osteitis, especially in rice farmers from endemic regions that includes India.

Unusual presence of the immune evasion gene cluster in livestock-associated MRSA of lineage CC398 causing peridural and psoas abscesses in a poultry farmer.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolate responsible for an aggressive infection (peridural and psoas abscess secondary to haematogenous septic arthritis) in a poultry farmer. METHODS: Molecular characterization was performed, including spa- and multilocus sequence typing of the isolate, assessment of its resistance phenotype and detection of tetracycline resistance and of virulence and immune evasion cluster (IEC) genes were performed. RESULTS: The MRSA isolate was tetracycline- and fluorquinolone-resistant, and was ascribed to CC398, spa-t1451. The isolate harboured tet(M) (distinctive of livestock-associated (LA) MRSA-CC398 clade) and IEC-type B system (characteristic of the methicillin-susceptible human lineage, but typically absent in LA-MRSA-CC398 strains), and lacked toxin-coding genes lukF/lukS-PV, tsst-1, eta and etb. CONCLUSION: IEC re-acquisition by LA-MRSA-CC398-LA strains is an unusual finding, but could constitute an emerging public health problem. It would represent an evolutionary step towards LA-MRSA-CC398's adaptation to human hosts, and might enhance its invasiveness and ability to be transmitted to humans.

Psoas abscess secondary to retroperitoneal distant metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and duodenal infiltration treated by Whipple procedure: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Psoas abscess is a rare clinical disease of various origins. Most common causes include hematogenous spread of bacteria from a different primary source, spondylodiscitis or perforated intestinal organs. But rarely some abscesses are related to malignant metastatic disease. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case report we present the case of a patient with known squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radio-chemotherapy three years prior. She now presented with a psoas abscess and subsequent complete inferior vena cava thrombosis, as well as duodenal and vertebral infiltration. The abscess was drained over a prolonged period of time and later was found to be a complication caused by metastases of the cervical carcinoma. Due to the massive extent of the metastases a Whipple procedure was performed to successfully control the local progress of the metastasis. CONCLUSION: As psoas abscess is an unspecific disease which presents with non-specific symptoms adequate therapy may be delayed due to lack of early diagnostic results. This case report highlights the difficulties of managing a malignant abscess and demonstrates some diagnostic pitfalls that might be encountered. It stresses the necessity of adequate diagnostics to initiate successful therapy. Reports on psoas abscesses that are related to cervix carcinoma are scarce, probably due to the rarity of this event, and are limited to very few case reports. We are the first to report a case in which an extensive and complex abdominal procedure was needed for local control to improve quality of life.

[Psoas abscess caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis]. / Absceso de psoas por Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus of growing importance and atypical behavior. The infections caused by this microorganism are becoming more frequent, having a broader spectrum. Psoas abscesses caused by this germ are rare, with few cases reported in the literature. In this work, we present a case of a psoas abscess caused by S. lugdunensis in a patient suffering from diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis, which was treated with intravenous cloxacillin with a good outcome.

Neonatal Iliopsoas Abscess: The First Korean Case.

Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is rare in neonates. We present a case of neonatal IPA that was initially believed to bean inguinal hernia. A 20-day-old male infant was referred to our hospital for herniorrhaphy after a 2-day history of swelling and bluish discoloration of the left inguinal area and leg without limitation of motion. Abdominal and pelvic ultrasonography suggested a femoral hernia, but the anatomy was unclear. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a multi-septated cystic mass extending into the psoas muscle from the lower pole of the left kidney to the femur neck. Broad spectrum antibiotics were initiated, and prompt surgical exploration was planned. After opening the retroperitoneal cavity via an inguinal incision, an IPA was diagnosed and surgically drained. Culture of the abscess fluid detected Staphylococcus aureus, sensitive to methicillin. The patient was discharged without complication on the 17th postoperative day.

Primary psoas abscess as a complication of postpartum: A case report.

Primary psoas abscess is an uncommon yet critical factor contributing to postpartum sepsis. This report is of a case of postpartum primary psoas abscess in a 24-year-old Moroccan woman. After an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, a 24-year-old primiparous Moroccan woman presented to our hospital with a 3-week history of severe left-sided lower abdominal pain that radiated to the anterior aspect of the left thigh. She had been taking ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and paracetamol for a week without any improvement. On examination, she was febrile and pale. The laboratory analysis revealed the presence of microcytic anemia, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and an increased level of C-reactive protein. Computed tomography scans of the abdomen, and pelvis were conducted, revealing a substantial left psoas abscess. Under the guidance of computed tomography, anterior abdominal percutaneous drainage of the abscess was successfully performed. A pan-sensitive Streptococcus agalactiae strain was identified through culture of the specimen. The patient showed a favorable response to treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate and gentamicin. This case illustrates that primary psoas abscess should be considered in cases of any postpartum infectious presentation.

Bilateral tuberculosis psoas abscess in a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, there is an increase in the frequency of reports of psoas abscesses due to advances in imaging technology, which has led to early diagnosis and treatment. A bilateral psoas abscess is rare and, when it occurs, is usually secondary and in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of a bilateral tuberculosis psoas abscess in a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 21-year-old Ugandan female undergraduate who contracted human immunodeficiency virus through vertical transmission and has been on highly active antiretroviral drugs presented with bilateral lower abdominal pain with associated fever and headache. Clinical examination revealed abdominal tenderness in both iliac fossae with palpable masses. Ultrasonography revealed fluid collection in both psoas muscles confirming bilateral abscesses. The aspirate was acid-fast bacilli positive. A diagnosis of bilateral tuberculosis psoas abscess was made. Open drainage was performed and antituberculosis drugs were commenced. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral tuberculosis psoas abscesses occurring in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients, although uncommon, is not unexpected. It is a form of secondary psoas abscess in immunocompromised patients. Here, the outcome was successful with a combination of early surgical drainage and appropriate medical therapy.

Multiple liver, splenic and psoas abscesses due to melioidosis: A case report.

Melioidosis is caused by community-acquired gram-negative bacillus Burkholderia pseudomallei which resides in soil and water. It was first described in 1912 in Burma and 1927 in Sri Lanka. Melioidosis presents with non-specific clinical and biochemical findings. Diagnosis is confirmed by the isolation of bacteria in cultures or demonstrating antibody response. Once the diagnosis is made, patients are managed with a course of intravenous antibiotics followed by a long course of oral antibiotics. Even with antibiotic treatments, most patients do not achieve complete recovery which results in chronic disease. Prolonged antibiotic therapy makes patients less compliant with treatment. Here we present a 50-year-old Sri Lankan male with diabetes mellitus presented with low-grade fever and back pain. He was found to have multiple abscesses involving the liver, spleen and left psoas muscle. Initially, he was evaluated for tuberculosis and later only melioidosis was diagnosed. The patient was managed with guided aspiration of abscesses and intravenous antibiotics. Subsequently, the patient defaulted on all treatments. It is important to consider melioidosis as a differential diagnosis in immunocompromised patients presented with multiple abscesses. It is important to maintain a registry for follow-up melioidosis patients to prevent becoming chronic melioidosis patients and to save healthcare costs.