Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.17(4) > 1075914

An, Kim, and Min: Clinical Availability, Diagnosis and Treatment of the Primary Psoas Muscle Abscess

Abstract

Study Design

This is a retrospective study on the clinical availability, diagnosis and treatment of primary psoas muscle abscess.

Objectives

This study investigated the causes and clinical results of patients with primary psoas muscle abscess.

Summary of Literature Review

Primary psoas muscle abscess is not a common disease clinically, but it is a very dangerous disease if the diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

Materials and Methods

Between October 2003 and February 2010, we investigated the symptoms, pathogens, the associated diseases and treatments of 17 patients (11 males and 6 females; mean age: 49.5 years old). We divided patients into the 3 groups According to the treatment options (Group 1: antibiotics alone, Group 2: percutaneous catheter drainage, Group 3: open drainage) and the correlation of the abscess size of each group was analyzed by the Kruskall Wallis method.

Results

The most common complaint was lower back pain (14 patients). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common infectious organism (12 patients). All the patients were treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. Group 1 was composed of 4 patients and the average size of the abscess was 2.3cm (range: 1.2~4.5cm). Group 2 was composed of 7 patients and the average size of the abscess was 7.4cm (range: 3.8~12.2cm). Group 3 was composed of 6 patients and the average size of the abscess was 8.1cm (range: 6.1~14.7cm). There was a significant correlation of the abscess size between each group. (p=0.0007)

Conclusions

The patients diagnosed with primary psoas muscle abscess complained about lower back pain, a febrile sense and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of the primary psoas muscle abscesses are pyogenic infections. We have to use broad-spectrum antibiotics for the initial treatment. When the occasion demands, additional treatment like percutaneous catheter drainage and open drainage should be considered.

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Fig.1. (A)
Transverse contrast-enhanced CT scan shows a hypodense lesion with enhancing rim in the left psoas muscle, typically an abscess. (B) Coronal T2-weighted MRI scan shows a septated abscess in the left psoas muscle
jkss-17-191f1.tif
Fig.2. (A)
Coronal contrast-enhanced CT scan shows a large hypodense lesion with enhancing rim in the right psoas muscle, typically an abscess (B) Post 3 days of PCD insertion, Coronal contrast-enhanced CT scan shows a decreased amount of abscess in the right psoas muscle
jkss-17-191f2.tif
Table 1.
Characteristics of patients with a psoas abscess seen in the period october 2003 to february 2010
No Sex/ Age Predisposing Condition Micro-organism Treatment Hospital Day Outcome
1 F/41 DM Mycobaterium tuberculosis Antibiotic+ Tb medication 15 favorable
2 F/76 Pneumonia Staphylococcus aureus Antibiotic 12 died
3 F/48 HTN Staphylococcus aureus Antibiotic + Open drainage 14 favorable
4 F/74 HTN, cervical ca Staphylococcus aureus Antibiotic + PCD 23 favorable
5 F/17   Staphylococcus aureus Antibiotic 19 favorable
6 F/60 HTN Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Antibiotic + PCD 23 favorable
7 F/55 HTN klebsiella oxytoca Antibiotic + Open drainage 12 favorable
8 M/23   Escherichia coli Antibiotic 10 favorable
9 M/63 HTN, DM Staphylococcus aureus Antibiotic + PCD + Open drainage 58 favorable
10 M/70 Bladder ca Staphylococcus aureus Antibiotic + PCD 6 died
11 M/61 Colon ca. Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Antibiotic + Open drainage 14 died
12 M/26 DM a-hemolytic streptococcus Antibiotic + PCD 21 favorable
13 M/16   Staphylococcus aureus Antibiotic + Open drainage 19 favorable
14 M/60 HTN, DM Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Antibiotic + PCD 22 favorable
15 M/48 HTN Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) Antibiotic 18 favorable
16 M/69   Escherichia coli Antibiotic + PCD 11 favorable
17 M/32 DM   Antibiotic + PCD 25 favorable

PCD, percutaneous catheter drainage MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Table 2.
Initial symptoms and clinical findings
Variable No. of patients
Lower back pain 14
Fever (>38.0) 11
Gastrointestinal symptom 5
Lower leg pain 4
Weight loss 3
Inguinal mass 2
Lower leg swelling 1
able 3.
Characteristics of psoas abscesses
Characteristics No. of patients
Size, cm  
  <3 4
  3-6 3
  6-9 4
  9-12 3
  >12 3
Side  
  Unilateral 13
  Bilateral 4
No. of psoas abscess  
  Single 13
  Multiple 4
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