New perspectives in acute spinal epidural abscess. Illustrated by two case reports.

The histories of two patients with spinal epidural abscess are reported. Attention is drawn to the route of infection by means of direct inoculation of pathogens in the wake of paravertebral infiltration of local anaesthetics for relieving lower backpain, furthermore we emphasize the rare occurrence of a relapsing acute spinal epidural abscess. Additionally the diagnostic superiority of nuclear magnetic resonance tomography is described in a patient known to be allergic to commonly used contrast material.