[Thoracic epidural abscess without neurological deficits].

This case report describes a patient, who had a thoracic epidural abscess without neurological deficits. The patient had epidural analgesia due to a flail chest trauma. After 14 days he developed radicular pain during bolus injection through the catheter, as well as fever and elevated white cell count and C reactive protein. An acute magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thoracic epidural abscess. The initial treatment was high dose antibiotic therapy followed by an acute surgical laminectomy. The patient never developed any neurological signs and was kept on high dose oral opioids and gabapentin in order to secure sufficient analgesia.