[Actinomycosis: an unusual cause of spinal cord compression. Case report and review of the literature].

Actinomycosis is an unusual and unrecognized cause of spinal cord compression of infectious origin. We report the case of a 57-year-old immunocompetent woman admitted for sub-acute lower limb ataxia. The diagnosis of spinal cord compression secondary to actinomyces infectious arthritis was established. Surgical decompression and long-term antibiotic treatment enabled complete recovery. Data from the literature indicate that actinomycosis is a potential cause of several neurological manifestations. Unusual but treatable, actinomycosis is a potential alternative when the main etiologies have been ruled out.