A case reported here was a 56-year-old female with lower thoracic pain and muscle weakness of both legs. The patient was given cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis in November 1982 with a 2 months history of fever, abdominal pain and general fatigue. The culture of the bile obtained at surgery showed Salmonella tyhi. Afer the operation her symptoms became free. However She began to suffer from lower thoracic pain and muscle weakness of both legs since December. Her lower thoracic pain and muscle weakness became disabling to walk. She was admitted to our hospital in February 1983.
On examination, she had hyperreflexia of both legs with bialteral patella and ankle clonus. All muscle groups in both legs had grade 2 power. There was no sensory loss and no urinary disturbance. The plain roentgenogram indicated destruction of the T10 and T11 vertebrae and the disc between them. The myelography showed a complete bolck at the level of the disc between T10 and T11. On the third of March, anteior body fusion between T10 and T11 was performed. At the operation a small abscess containing pus was found. The culture of the pus showed Salmonella typhi. She was given Chloramphenicol and after 3 weeks the Chloramphenicol was replaced by Ampicillin. The patient was rested on the plaster shell for 2 months and then began a exercise to walk with a body cast. The power in both legs increased gradually to grade 3-5 and she could walk well with a cane in September 1983.
