Collection of pus located around the spinal cord. Usually seen as a complication of vertebral osteomyelitis and discitis but may be related to hematogenous seeding during bloodstream infection. Frequently, the location of the abscess is in the epidural space. Patients may have acute or subacute back pain if this infection began as vertebral osteomyelitis or discitis. Fever may or may not be present. As the abscess forms, patients typically have focal and severe back pain. As the size of the abscess increases, it may impinge on the spinal cord, leading to signs of spinal cord compression, including motor weakness and sensory deficits. Untreated, the patient's neurologic symptoms can worsen to the point of paralysis.