Antalgic flexion of the lower limb: an unusual presentation of aortoiliac infection with psoas muscle abscess-four case reports

Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2005 May-Jun;39(3):287-92. doi: 10.1177/153857440503900311.

Abstract

Psoas abscess with aortoiliac infection is rare. Patients are often symptomatic for a long time before the correct diagnosis is made. The authors report 4 cases in which the presenting symptom was an antalgic flexion of the left thigh. In 2 patients the cause was an aortic graft infection with enteric fistula; in the other 2, infection developed after transfemoral endovascular procedures. Open surgical treatment was performed in 3 cases and percutaneous drainage in 1. One surgical patient with a late diagnosis eventually died of sepsis; the other 3 are alive and well at mean follow-up of 14 months.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, False / surgery
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aorta, Abdominal / surgery
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis / microbiology*
  • Debridement
  • Drainage / methods
  • Humans
  • Iliac Artery / surgery
  • Intestinal Fistula / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnosis*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / therapy
  • Psoas Abscess / microbiology*
  • Psoas Abscess / therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents