2. What Is Currently Known about Intramedullary Spinal Cord Abscesses in Children?
This diagnosis of ISCA was confirmed in 37 (57.81%) boys and 25 (39.06%) girls. In two cases (3.13%), there were no data regarding sex. The analyzed ages did not reveal a normal distribution (Shapiro–Wilk test;
p < 0.001; see
Figure 2). The median age of the patients was 2.00 years (IQR: 1.17–5.00). Boys were significantly older than girls: 3.60 (IQR: 1.42–6.00) vs. 1.33 (IQR: 1.00–2.25;
p = 0.007).
Figure 2. The age distribution among pediatric patients who developed intramedullary spinal cord abscesses (Shapiro−Wilk test: p < 0.001). Legend: red curve − expected normal distribution.
2.1. ISCA Course and Localization
The course of ISCA can be divided into acute (<1 week), subacute (1–6 weeks), and chronic (>6 weeks)
[5]. The most frequently observed manifestation was acute: 25 (39.06%) followed by 21 (32.81%) subacute cases. Chronic onset was observed in 13 (20.31%) cases. In five (7.82%) cases there were no detailed data. Neither sex (
p = 0.350) nor age (R = −0.010,
p = 0.940) affected the onset of ISCA.
The exact location was identified in 60 cases (including seven holocords and two isolated lesions in the conus medullaris). The location of ISCA lesions in the remaining 51 cases is shown in
Figure 3. The precise localization was not directly provided in four of the cases. In the newborn/infant group the spinal cord terminated most frequently at the level of L2/L3. As we age, the level of spinal cord termination is changing, and in the adolescent population, it was most often found at the level of the middle third of L1 and L1/L2
[6]. Therefore, it seems to be interesting that in 16 (25%) cases the abscess was observed below the L3 level. The possible reasons for these observations were found in 12 (75%) cases. There were distinguished the following causes: five (31.25%) cases of spina bifida, four (25.0%) cases of (possible) coexistence of ISCA and intradural extramedullary lesion, two (12.5%) cases of low conus medullaris. Moreover,
reswe
archers identified one case of the following explanation: retained medullary cord
[6], tethered cord
[7], and mild thoracolumbar scoliosis with upper anal cleft
[8]. Theoretically, the classification of the lesion within the terminal filum may be the next issue. Lesions in this localization are considered
intraspinal, which may be in contradiction to the aforementioned end of the spinal cord.
Figure 3. The localization of the intramedullary spinal cord abscess in children.
2.2. Symptoms Present in ISCA Patients
Laboratory results indicative of inflammation/infection were identified in 55 (85.94%) patients. These included fever—39 (60.94%), abnormalities in laboratory tests (elevated white blood cell counts, C-reactive protein concentration, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate)—34 (53.13%), and symptoms of meningitis—12 (18.75%). Motor deficits were observed in 57 (89.06%) patients.
In the other cases, the following symptoms were noted, e.g., irritability, exaggerated lower and upper limb reflexes, and isolated fevers. Sensory deficits were noted in 25 (39.06%) patients. Moreover, urinary and bowel dysfunction were observed in 28 (43.75%) and 11 (17.19%) cases, respectively.
2.3. Predisposing Factors and Comorbidities
2.3.1. Dermal Sinus Tracts
Congenital midline defects, as well as anatomic abnormalities of the spinal cord or vertebral column, are some of the key predisposing factors for ISCA. One of these is dermal sinus tracts (see
Figure 4), an abnormality present at birth over the dorsal midline where an abnormal epithelialized connection from the skin tracks inwards toward the spine, especially in the lumbar (32–43%) and the lumbosacral regions (32–54%)
[9]. Their prevalence is estimated at 1 in 2500 live births.
Figure 4. The schematic representation of a dermal tract as a predisposing factor for intramedullary spinal cord abscesses.
Dermal sinus sinuses were observed in 35 (54.68%) children. The causative organisms among these patients include the microorganisms colonizing the skin surrounding the sinus tract openings
[10].
2.3.2. (Epi)dermoid Cyst
Epidermoid and dermoid cysts are two major variants of ectodermal-derived neural axis cysts
[11]. Here
rwe
searchers found three cases of this condition in ISCA patients
[11][12][13]. Interestingly, these pathological entities can be related to a dermal sinus tract it is not mandatory
[11].
2.3.3. Spina Bifida
RWe
searchers identified nine cases of ISCA related to spina bifida (see
Figure 5)
[7][12][14][15][16][17][18][19]. In almost all of these cases, the presence of dermal sinus tracts was noted. Therefore, it should be assumed, that the true predisposing factor, dermal sinus tracts, is more frequently observed among patients with abnormalities of the ectodermal, mesenchymal, or neural crest derivatives such as myelomeningocele, lipomylomeningocele, and other forms of spina bifida occulta
[15]. Perhaps a similar explanation can be given in the case of ISCA among adult patients born with talipes equinovarus
[20][21].
Figure 5. Relationship between spina bifida and intramedullary spinal cord abscess.
2.3.4. Prior Inflammation
Prior inflammation is a risk factor for developing ISCA. It may lead to a hematogenous or contagious spread of infection. The following scenarios were observed: general infection
[22][23], respiratory system infection
[24], maxillary sinus abscesses
[25], Brucella infection
[26], and long-term diarrhea
[27]. Interestingly, there were noted some cases of previous tuberculosis
[25].
2.3.5. Others
Other risk factors included iatrogenic ones as well as trauma. In
theour literature search,
researcherswe have identified one case of ISCA which developed in the course of multiple attempts to perform a lumbar puncture and a second one due to spinal cord injury
[28][29].