Spinal cord abscess (SCA) occurs when injured spinal tissue becomes infected with pus. This can occur due to bacteria, which grows inside the body. SCA is a rare disease of the spinal cord and the areas in or around it. It can cause permanent damage to the spinal cord. Back injuries, boils on the skin, back surgery or spread of an infection through the bloodstream are risk factors for the disease. There could be other factors such as trauma (a bullet or knife wound, for instance).
The pressure that an abscess places on the spinal cord can cause paralysis or other neurological problems (that is, problems related to the nerves).
