Organ-preserving treatment of an epididymal abscess in a patient with spinal cord injury

J Pannek, S Pannek-Rademacher, M Cachin-Jus

Study design:Case report.Objectives:To describe a case of successful organ-preserving treatment of an epididymal abscess in a tetraplegic patient.Setting:Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Switzerland.Methods:We present the clinical course of a patient with an epididymal abscess caused by multiresistant bacteria. As the patient declined surgical intervention, a conservative approach was induced with intravenous antibiotic treatment. As the clinical findings did not ameliorate, adjunctive homeopathic treatment was used.Results:Under combined treatment, laboratory parameters returned to normal, and the epididymal abscess was rapidly shrinking. After 1 week, merely a subcutaneous liquid structure was detected. Fine-needle aspiration revealed sterile purulent liquid, which was confirmed by microbiological testing when the subcutaneous abscess was drained. Postoperative course was uneventful.Conclusions:As the risk for recurrent epididymitis is high in persons with spinal cord injury, an organ-preserving approach is justified even in severe cases. Homeopathic treatment was a valuable adjunctive treatment in the above-mentioned case. Therefore, prospective studies are needed to further elucidate the future opportunities and limitations of classical homeopathy in the treatment of urinary tract infections.