Epidural abscess following catheterization is a rare complication. When it occurs it usually affects cancer patients with poor or suppressed immune response or patients with sepsis. We present a healthy patient in whom an epidural cervical catheter was placed to provide analgesia during rehabilitation of an upper limb and who developed an epidural abscess one month later after few warning signs. We point out the need to suspect this complication and rule it out or confirm it upon the appearance of any sign of meningeal irritation. We emphasize the importance of imaging techniques computed axial tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance for diagnosis and confirmation, to allow for early surgical resolution.
Abscess Adult