Abstract
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. Intrabdominal 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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kyle J (1971) Psoas abscess in Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology 61:149–155
Hardcastle JD (1970) Acute non-tuberculous psoas abscess. Br J Surg 57:103–106
Oster MW, Gelrud LG, Lotz MJ, Herzig GP, Johnston GS (1975) Psoas abscess localisation by gallium scan in aplastic anaemia. JAMA 232:377–379
Maguire J, Kaye SB (1985) Psoas abscess: unusual complication of effective chemotherapy for teratoma. Br Med J 290:1870
Lam SM, Hodgson AR (1966) Non-spinal pyogenic psoas abscess. J Bone Joint Surg 48 A:867–877
Ramus NI, Shorey BA (1975) Crohn's disease and psoas abscess. Br Med J 3:574–575
Kavanagh TG, Griffiths NF, Todd IP (1979) Psoas abscess and Crohn's disease. J R Soc Med 72:612–613
Buril CJ, Ritchie JK, Hawley PR, Todd IP (1980) Psoas abscess: a complication of Crohn's disease. Br J Surg 67: 355–356
Van Dongen LM, Lubbers EJC (1982) Psoas abscess in Crohn's disease. Br J Surg 69:589–590
Durning P, Schofield PF (1984) Diagnosis and management of psoas abscess in Crohn's disease. J R Soc Med 77:33–34
Rockwood CA, Monnet JC, Rountree CR (1961) Non-tuberculous psoas abscess. Am J Surg 27:598–602
Ashby EC, Hooper J (1969) Psoas abscess without spinal disease: the value of lymphangiography in tuberculous lymphadenitis. Postgrad Med J 45:285–302
Finnerty R, Vordermark II JS, Modarelli RO, Buck AS (1981) Primary psoas abscess: case report and review of literature. J Urol 126:108–109
Sager S, Webb JR, Stoker TAM (1986) Chronic primary abscess of the psoas muscle due to staphylococcus aureus. Br J Hosp Med 35:265–266
Peterson LM, Allison JC, LuCC (1982) Psoas abscess resulting from perforating carcinoma of the sigmoid colon. Dis Col Rct 26:390–392
Smith S, Lenarz L, Mollitt DL, Golladay ES (1982) The sore psoas: a difficult diagnosis in childhood. J Pediatr Surg 17: 975–978
Lennard TW, Farndon JR (1983) Psoas abscess in Crohn's disease. Br J Surg 70:188 (Letter)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bartolo, D.C.C., Ebbs, S.R. & Cooper, M.J. Psoas abscess in Bristol: a 10-year review. Int J Colorect Dis 2, 72–76 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01647695
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01647695