Читать книгу Complications in Equine Surgery - Группа авторов - Страница 246

Introduction of pathogens inside the spinal canal during epidural injection may cause spinal abscess formation, osteomyelitis of the vertebrae or diskospondylitis. If the infection erodes through the dura matter this may cause septic meningitis. If the osteomyelitis is extensive this could cause vertebral fracture. Severe infection may cause sepsis and the death of the patient.

The author could not find any report of spinal infections related to epidural injections in horses. There is one case report of an iatrogenic spinal abscess following a cerebrospinal fluid tap in a horse [82]. Both bacterial and fungal spinal infections have been reported in the human literature secondary to epidural injections, most commonly related to steroid injections.

In a retrospective study looking at the outcome of indwelling epidural catheters in an equine hospital, only 3 out of 43 horses developed local inflammation or signs of increased sensitivity associated with the catheter site, but none of these horses developed any other clinical sign and bacterial culture of the catheter did not yield any growth [87]. A similar retrospective study in dogs did not report any spinal infection, only a low incidence of inflammation and infection at the catheter entry site that resolved after catheter removal without treatment [88].