Lumbar Radiculopathy due to Iliacus Abscess: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: An iliopsoas abscess is a type of deep pelvic infection that presents as an uncommon cause of back pain. Patients generally present with vague and ambiguous symptoms that pose diagnostic difficulty. This case report describes a 19-year-old female who initially presented with low back pain and lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy secondary to complex iliacus deep pelvic infection. This is the second documented case of lumbar radiculopathy as the presenting symptom for iliopsoas abscess. The patient underwent surgical drainage and debridement and was prescribed intravenous culture-tailored antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks.