Paraspinal Tropical Pyomyositis and Epidural Abscesses Presenting as Low Back Pain

We present the case of a 13-year-old patient who presented to the Emergency Department with low back and flank pain. Cross sectional imaging revealed paraspinal pyomyositis and epidural abscess. A detailed patient history revealed a recent lower extremity skin infection consistent with tropical pyomyositis. Review of this case shows the importance for recommending either contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging of the spine and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a recent skin infection and acute onset of back pain.