Anterior sacral pyocele with meningitis: a rare presentation of occult spinal dysraphism with congenital dermal sinus.

Abstract

The authors describe an interesting case of a hitherto asymptomatic occult spinal defect with a congenital sacral dermal sinus which proved to be the entry point for bacterial meningitis in an otherwise healthy 9-year-old female child. The patient presented with fever and neck stiffness, and a dermal sinus in the lumbosacral region was identified on examination. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis confirmed bacterial meningitis and a spinal magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed a dermal sinus tract with an anterior spinal meningocele, caudal regression syndrome, and a tethered spinal cord. In addition to administration of intravenous antimicrobial agents, surgical exploration of the sacral dermal sinus tract was performed and an anterior sacral pyocele was drained. The pyocele cavity was disconnected from the thecal sac, and the thickened and fatty filum terminale was sectioned. Although congenital sacral dermal sinus manifesting as bacterial meningitis is known, the occurrence of an anterior sacral pyocele has not yet been described in children.

• Authors: Sonal Bhatia, Milind S Tullu, Nitin B Date, Dattatraya Muzumdar, Mamta N Muranjan, Keya R Lahiri
• Journal: Journal of child neurology (J Child Neurol) Vol. 25 Issue 11 Pg. 1393-7 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1708-8283 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20363962 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Female
• Humans
• Klebsiella Infections (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Meningitis, Bacterial (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Sacrum (microbiology)
• Spina Bifida Occulta (microbiology)
• Streptococcal Infections (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Streptococcus
• Treatment Outcome