A case of paravertebral abscess presented with ataxic gait

Abstract

Paravertebral abscess is a rare disease with few case reports. Because the symptoms are nonspecific, the diagnosis is difficult. We experienced a case with paravertebral abscess which presented with ataxic gait and tilted body truck. The paravertebral muscle is composed of three muscles (i.e. the iliocostal muscle, longissimus muscle, spinal muscle) and when one side of the paravertebral muscle contracts, the body truck turns and bends to the side. We thought that the inflammation from the abscess contracts the paravertebral muscle, resulting in the ataxic gait and tilted body truck.