Bartolo DC, Ebbs SR, Cooper MJ.
Psoas abscess in Bristol: a 10-year review.
Int J Colorectal Dis. 1987 Jun;2(2):72-6. doi: 10.1007/BF01647695.
Abstract/Text
A consecutive series of 16 cases of psoas abscess managed over a 10-year period at the Bristol Royal Infirmary is presented. Tuberculosis accounted for 4 patients all normally resident in the United Kingdom. Intraabdominal inflammatory disorders accounted for 9 of the cases with Crohn's disease being the commonest of these with 5 cases. The remaining patients comprised 3 with primary staphylococcal abscesses, one appendicitis, one diverticulitis and 2 with colonic carcinoma. Diagnostic delay was common. Ultrasonography together with guided aspiration of pus was the most useful investigation giving the diagnosis in cases due to tuberculosis and staphylococci. The presence of gut associated organisms was indicative of gastrointestinal pathology. Four patients died and significant morbidity occurred in a further 5. We recommend effective dependent drainage together with resection of diseased gut in the cases of gastrointestinal origin.
Mückley T, Schütz T, Kirschner M, Potulski M, Hofmann G, Bühren V.
Psoas abscess: the spine as a primary source of infection.
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2003 Mar 15;28(6):E106-13. doi: 10.1097/01.BRS.0000050402.11769.09.
Abstract/Text
STUDY DESIGN: Case report, literature review, discussion.
OBJECTIVES: To emphasize the role of the spine as primary source of infection for psoas abscess.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spine-associated psoas abscesses increase with more frequent invasive procedures of the spine and recurring tuberculosis in industrialized countries. Diagnosis is often delayed by misinterpretation as arthritis, joint infection, or urologic or abdominal disorders.
METHODS: We present six cases of psoas abscesses associated with spinal infections that were treated in our hospital from January to December 2001. Diagnostic and treatment concepts are discussed.
RESULTS: Our data emphasize the importance of the spine as primary source of infection and suggest an increase in the incidence of secondary psoas abscess. Treatment includes open surgical drainage and antibiotic therapy. In patients with high operative risk and uniloculated abscess, a CT-guided percutaneous abscess drainage can be sufficient. It is essential to combine abscess drainage with causative treatment of the primary infectious focus. Related to the spine, this includes treatment of spondylodiscitis or implant infection after spinal surgery. Usually, several operations are necessary to eradicate bone and soft-tissue infection and restore spinal stability. Continuous antibiotic therapy over a period of 2-3 weeks after normalization of infectious parameters is recommended.
CONCLUSION: The spine as primary source of infection for secondary psoas abscess should always be included in differential diagnosis. Because the prognosis of psoas abscess can be improved by early diagnosis and prompt onset of therapy, it needs to be considered in patients with infection and back or hip pain or history of spinal surgery.
Ricci MA, Rose FB, Meyer KK.
Pyogenic psoas abscess: worldwide variations in etiology.
World J Surg. 1986 Oct;10(5):834-43. doi: 10.1007/BF01655254.
Abstract/Text
López VN, Ramos JM, Meseguer V, Pérez Arellano JL, Serrano R, Ordóñez MAG, Peralta G, Boix V, Pardo J, Conde A, Salgado F, Gutiérrez F; GTI-SEMI Group.
Microbiology and outcome of iliopsoas abscess in 124 patients.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2009 Mar;88(2):120-130. doi: 10.1097/MD.0b013e31819d2748.
Abstract/Text
To describe the microbiology and outcome of iliopsoas abscess (IPA) in a large case series, we analyzed 124 cases of IPA collected from 1990 through 2004 in 11 hospitals in Spain. Twenty-seven (21.8%) patients had primary and 97 (78.2%) had secondary IPA. The main sources of infection were bone (50.5%), gastrointestinal tract (24.7%), and urinary tract (17.5%). A definitive microbial diagnosis was achieved in 93 (75%) cases. Abscess culture was the most frequent procedure leading to microbial diagnosis, followed by blood cultures. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacteroides species were the most frequent microbial causes: S. aureus was the most common organism in patients with primary abscesses (42.9%) and with abscesses of skeletal origin (35.2%), whereas E. coli was the leading organism in those with abscesses of urinary (61.5%) and gastrointestinal (42.1%) tracts. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in 15 patients, 4 of them associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Twenty (21.5%) cases had polymicrobial infections; these were more common among patients with abscesses of gastrointestinal origin. Information on clinical outcome was available for 120 patients; 19 (15.8%) had a relapse and 6 (5%) died due to complications related to the IPA. Patients who died were older and more likely to have bacteremia and E. coli isolated from cultures. In conclusion, secondary IPA is more prevalent than primary IPA. Among those with secondary IPA, most abscesses are secondary to a skeletal source. A bacterial etiology can be identified in most cases. The overall prognosis of patients with this condition is good.
Ogihara M, Masaki T, Watanabe T, Hatano K, Matsuda K, Yahagi N, Ichinose M, Seichi A, Muto T.
Psoas abscess complicating Crohn's disease: report of a case.
Surg Today. 2000;30(8):759-63. doi: 10.1007/s005950070093.
Abstract/Text
We describe herein the case of a psoas abscess complicating Crohn's disease, and present a review of the literature on this unusual disease entity. A 22-year-old Japanese man with a 5-year history of Crohn's ileocolitis presented with right lower abdominal and hip pain, and a diagnosis of right psoas abscess was subsequently made by abdominal computed tomography (CT). Following the administration of antibiotics and CT-guided percutaneous drainage of the abscess, the patient's symptoms temporarily improved; however, 2 weeks later, the abscess cavity was found to have extended around the periarticular tissue of the right hip joint. To prevent the development of septic arthritis of the hip joint, surgical drainage of the abscess cavity and ileocecal resection were immediately performed, after which the patient's condition greatly improved. The resected specimen showed Crohn's ileocolitis with an external fistula in the terminal ileum which was considered to have caused the psoas abscess. Since psoas abscess in Crohn's disease can result in serious complications such as septic arthritis of the hip joint if left untreated, aggressive treatment should be initiated without delay.
Hsu RB, Lin FY.
Psoas abscess in patients with an infected aortic aneurysm.
J Vasc Surg. 2007 Aug;46(2):230-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2007.04.017. Epub 2007 Jun 27.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Psoas abscess is an uncommon disease, and its presenting features are usually nonspecific. Infected aortic aneurysms could be complicated by psoas abscess.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted to examine the incidence, clinical presentations, microbiology, and outcomes of psoas abscess in patients with an infected aortic aneurysm.
RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2007, 40 patients (32 men) with an infected infrarenal aortic aneurysm were treated in our hospital. Their median age was 71 years (range, 38 to 88 years). In 38 patients a blood or tissue culture had a positive result. The most common responsible pathogen was Salmonella spp in 29 patients (76%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus in 3 (8%), Escherichia coli in 2 (5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae in 3 (8%), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 1 (3%). One patient underwent endovascular repair but died. In-situ graft replacement was done in 32 patients. Persistent or recurrent infection occurred in seven (22%) of 32 operated on patients. The mortality rate was 86%, and the overall aneurysm-related mortality rate of in situ graft replacement was 22% (7/32). In eight (20%) of the 40 patients, aortic infection was complicated by psoas abscess. Infection complicated by psoas abscess was present in seven of 32 operated patients. It was associated with higher incidence of emergency operation, hospital mortality, prosthetic graft infection, and aneurysm-related mortality than infection without abscess.
CONCLUSION: Psoas abscess was common in patients with infected infrarenal aortic aneurysm. Salmonella spp was the most common pathogen. Psoas abscess was associated with a high mortality rate, emergency operation, and persistent infection.
Mallick IH, Thoufeeq MH, Rajendran TP.
Iliopsoas abscesses.
Postgrad Med J. 2004 Aug;80(946):459-62. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.2003.017665.
Abstract/Text
Iliopsoas abscess is a relatively uncommon condition that can present with vague clinical features. Its insidious onset and occult characteristics can cause diagnostic delays, resulting in high mortality and morbidity. The epidemiology, aetiology, clinical features, and management of iliopsoas abscess are discussed.
Al-Khafaji MQ, Al-Smadi MW, Al-Khafaji MQ, Aslan S, Al-Khafaji YQ, Bagossy-Blás P, Al Nasser MH, Horváth BL, Viola Á.
Evaluating Imaging Techniques for Diagnosing and Drainage Guidance of Psoas Muscle Abscess: A Systematic Review.
J Clin Med. 2024 May 29;13(11). doi: 10.3390/jcm13113199. Epub 2024 May 29.
Abstract/Text
Background: Psoas muscle abscess (PMA) is an uncommon yet severe condition characterized by diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to its varied etiology and nonspecific symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of various imaging techniques used in the image-guided percutaneous drainage (PD) of PMA. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct for studies published in English from 1998 onwards that reported on the use of PD in treating PMA, detailing outcomes and complications. Imaging modalities guiding PD were also examined. Results: We identified 1570 articles, selecting 39 for full review. Of these, 23 met the inclusion criteria; 19 were excluded due to unspecified PMA, absence of imaging guidance for PD, or inconclusive results. Eleven studies utilized computed tomography (CT) for PD, with six also using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ten studies implemented ultrasound (US)-guided PD; variations in diagnostic imaging included combinations of US, CT, and MRI. A mixed approach using both CT and US was reported in two articles. Most studies using CT-guided PD showed complete success, while outcomes varied among those using US-guided PD. No studies employed MRI-guided PD. Conclusions: This review supports a multimodal approach for psoas abscess management, using MRI for diagnosis and CT for drainage guidance. We advocate for Cone Beam CT (CBCT)-MRI fusion techniques with navigation systems to enhance treatment precision and outcomes, particularly in complex cases with challenging abscess characteristics.
Lin MF, Lau YJ, Hu BS, Shi ZY, Lin YH.
Pyogenic psoas abscess: analysis of 27 cases.
J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 1999 Dec;32(4):261-8.
Abstract/Text
From 1993 to 1998, 29 pyogenic psoas abscesses occurring in 27 patients were seen in Taichung Veterans General Hospital. Their age range was 25 to 85 years. Diabetes mellitus was the leading underlying disease. Fever and pain in the flank area, back and hip were the usual manifestations. The duration of symptoms prior to the diagnosis ranged from 3 days to 6 months. Most abscesses were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) images and proven by abscess cultures, which were divided into primary and secondary types. Eighteen of 29 abscesses were regarded as primary. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen in the primary abscesses, followed by Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, viridans streptococci, S. epidermidis, and Salmonella spp.. In the secondary abscess category, E. coli was the leading organism in this series, followed by S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, viridans streptococci and Candida albicans. The associated conditions included epidural abscess, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, perirenal abscess, pulmonary tuberculosis, empyema, hydronephrosis and trauma history. The initial empiric therapy comprised mostly of cefazolin or oxacillin with or without an aminoglycoside. Thirteen patients underwent percutaneous drainage, while six received surgical debridement, including two with a recurrent abscess. One patient had both drainage and debridement. Others received medical treatment only. Two of the patients with primary abscess died in spite of percutaneous drainage. Therefore, open drainage, besides appropriate antibiotic treatment, is still required to control complex abscesses with sepsis.
Takada T, Terada K, Kajiwara H, Ohira Y.
Limitations of using imaging diagnosis for psoas abscess in its early stage.
Intern Med. 2015;54(20):2589-93. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.4927. Epub 2015 Oct 15.
Abstract/Text
Objective Patients diagnosed with psoas abscess have a high mortality rate. The major cause of its poor prognosis is delayed treatment. Therefore, making a correct diagnosis rapidly is important. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are considered to be the gold standards as imaging modalities that have a high sensitivity for detecting psoas abscess. There have been few reports regarding the limitations of these methods, but psoas abscess in its early stage may go undetected by CT and MRI. Methods Detection of psoas abscess by CT and MRI was investigated in the present study through a retrospective review of 15 patients in whom psoas abscess was diagnosed during a course of ten years at our hospital. Results In all patients, psoas abscess was diagnosed by at least a plain CT, enhanced CT, and/or plain MRI. The interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 20.9±17.9 days (mean ± standard deviation). In three patients, repeat imaging identified a psoas abscess, whereas initial imaging failed to detect it. The overall sensitivity of plain CT, enhanced CT, and plain MRI for psoas abscess was 78%, 86%, and 88%, respectively. From six days after the onset of symptoms, the sensitivity of each modality was 100%, while the sensitivity from day one to five days was only 33%, 50%, and 50%, respectively. Conclusion Although CT and MRI are considered to be gold standard modalities for diagnosing psoas abscess, both methods can fail to notice this condition in its early stage.
Pigrau C, Almirante B, Flores X, Falco V, Rodríguez D, Gasser I, Villanueva C, Pahissa A.
Spontaneous pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis and endocarditis: incidence, risk factors, and outcome.
Am J Med. 2005 Nov;118(11):1287. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.02.027.
Abstract/Text
PURPOSE: The relationship between pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis and infectious endocarditis is uncertain. This study investigates the incidence and risk factors of infectious endocarditis in patients with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis, and the outcome of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis with and without associated infectious endocarditis.
METHODS: A retrospective record review was conducted of all cases of vertebral osteomyelitis from January 1986 to June 2002, occurring in a tertiary referral hospital. Patients were followed for at least 6 months with careful attention to detection of infectious endocarditis and relapses.
RESULTS: Among 606 patients with infectious endocarditis, 28 (4.6%) had pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Among 91 cases of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis, 28 (30.8%) had infectious endocarditis. In 6 patients with no clinical signs of infectious endocarditis, the disease was established by routine echocardiography. Infectious endocarditis was more common in patients with predisposing heart conditions and streptococcal pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis infection. Overall, pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis in-hospital mortality was 11% (7.1% with infectious endocarditis). Twelve of 25 patients with infectious endocarditis with uncomplicated pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis were treated for 4 to 6 weeks (endocarditis protocol), with no pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis relapses.
CONCLUSIONS: When specifically sought, the incidence of infectious endocarditis is high in patients with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. Oral therapy may be an option for uncomplicated pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis; nevertheless, in gram-positive infections, this approach should only be considered after excluding infectious endocarditis. Favorable outcome with shorter treatment in uncomplicated pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis associated with infectious endocarditis suggests that prolonged therapy may not be needed in this subgroup except for those infected by difficult to treat microorganisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Candida spp.
Dave BR, Kurupati RB, Shah D, Degulamadi D, Borgohain N, Krishnan A.
Outcome of percutaneous continuous drainage of psoas abscess: A clinically guided technique.
Indian J Orthop. 2014 Jan;48(1):67-73. doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.125506.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Percutaneous aspiration of abscesses under ultrasonography (USG) and computer tomography (CT) scan has been well described. With recurrence rate reported as high as 66%. The open drainage and percutaneous continuous drainage (PCD) has reduced the recurrence rate. The disadvantage of PCD under CT is radiation hazard and problems of asepsis. Hence a technique of clinically guided percutaneous continuous drainage of the psoas abscess without real-time imaging overcomes these problems. We describe clinically guided PCD of psoas abscess and its outcome.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with dorsolumbar spondylodiscitis without gross neural deficit with psoas abscess of size >5 cm were selected for PCD. It was done as a day care procedure under local anesthesia. Sequentially, aspiration followed by guide pin-guided trocar and catheter insertion was done without image guidance. Culture sensitivity was done and chemotherapy initiated and catheter kept till the drainage was <10 ml for 48 hours. Outcome assessment was done with relief of pain, successful abscess drainage and ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) score at 2 years.
RESULTS: PCD was successful in all cases. Back and radicular pain improved in all cases. Average procedure time was 24.30 minutes, drain output was 234.40 ml, and the drainage duration was 7.90 days. One patient required surgical stabilisation due to progression of the spondylodiscitis resulting in instability inspite of successful drainage of abscess. Problems with the procedure were noticed in six patients. Multiple attempts (n = 2), persistent discharge (n = 1) for 2 weeks, blocked catheter (n = 2) and catheter pull out (n = 1) occurred with no effect on the outcome. The average ODI score improved from 62.47 to 5.51 at 2 years.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinically guided PCD is an efficient, safe and easy procedure in drainage of psoas abscess.
Yacoub WN, Sohn HJ, Chan S, Petrosyan M, Vermaire HM, Kelso RL, Towfigh S, Mason RJ.
Psoas abscess rarely requires surgical intervention.
Am J Surg. 2008 Aug;196(2):223-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.07.032. Epub 2008 May 7.
Abstract/Text
BACKGROUND: Surgeons are increasingly encountering psoas abscesses.
METHODS: We performed a review of 41 adults diagnosed and treated for psoas abscess at a county hospital. Treatment modalities and outcomes were evaluated to develop a contemporary algorithm.
RESULTS: Eighteen patients had a primary psoas abscess, and 23 had a secondary psoas abscess. Patient characteristics were similar in both groups. Intravenous drug abuse was the leading cause of primary abscesses. Secondary abscesses developed most commonly after abdominal surgery. Treatment was via open drainage (3%), computed tomography-guided percutaneous drainage (63%), or antibiotics alone (34%). Four recurrences occurred in the percutaneous group. Statistical analysis showed that the median size of psoas abscesses in the percutaneous group was significantly larger than in the antibiotics group (6 vs 2 cm; P < .001). The mortality rate was 3%.
CONCLUSIONS: Initial management of psoas abscesses should be nonsurgical (90% success). Small abscesses may be treated with antibiotics alone, and surgery can be reserved for occasional complicated recurrences.
