Organ-preserving treatment of an epididymal abscess in a patient with spinal cord injury

• Published in: Spinal cord Vol. 52 Suppl 1; no. S1; pp. S7 - S8
• Main Authors: Pannek, J, Pannek-Rademacher, S, Cachin-Jus, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Epidural Abscess - diagnostic imaging; Epidural Abscess - etiology; Humans; Male; Orchiectomy - methods; Organ Preservation; Spinal Cord Injuries - complications; Testis - pathology; Ultrasonography; Urinary Tract Infections - etiology; Urinary Tract Infections - therapy
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sc.2014.50

Case report. To describe a case of successful organ-preserving treatment of an epididymal abscess in a tetraplegic patient. Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Switzerland. We present the clinical course of a patient with an epididymal abscess caused by multiresistant bacteria. As the patient declined surgical intervention, a conservative approach was induced with intravenous antibiotic treatment. As the clinical findings did not ameliorate, adjunctive homeopathic treatment was used. Under combined treatment, laboratory parameters returned to normal, and the epididymal abscess was rapidly shrinking. After 1 week, merely a subcutaneous liquid structure was detected. Fine-needle aspiration revealed sterile purulent liquid, which was confirmed by microbiological testing when the subcutaneous abscess was drained. Postoperative course was uneventful. As the risk for recurrent epididymitis is high in persons with spinal cord injury, an organ-preserving approach is justified even in severe cases. Homeopathic treatment was a valuable adjunctive treatment in the above-mentioned case. Therefore, prospective studies are needed to further elucidate the future opportunities and limitations of classical homeopathy in the treatment of urinary tract infections.