Spinal cord compression and epidural abscess extension of pleural empyema.

We report a case of epidural extension of pleural empyema with cord compression and neurologic deficit. Surgical decompression was required and emergency bilateral laminectomy was performed with removal of abscess and granulation tissue. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus grew in cultures of pleural and epidural specimens and appropriate intravenous antibiotics were started. In spite of early diagnosis and rapid management the patient suffered severe sequelae. q 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.