Objective: To increase awareness of the possibility of epidural infection after continuous epidural infusion. Outline the salient diagnostic features of epidural infection. Outline a strategy to manage epidural infection and minimize morbidity.
Setting: Academic multidisciplinary pain clinic.
Patient: A patient with a left knee meniscal tear with a history of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS I) of the left foot.
Interventions: Attempted control of CRPS I symptoms with a tunnelled epidural catheter infusion.
Results and conclusions: The patient developed an epidural abscess diagnosed on the 11th postoperative day. The catheter was removed and the patient was treated successfully with intravenous antibiotics.