Fig. 1

Preoperative images. a Sagittal reconstructed computed tomography scan of the cervical spine demonstrates the typical findings of destructive spondyloarthropathy, such as intervertebral disc space narrowing, osteophytes (arrows), and erosion and cysts (arrow heads) in the adjacent vertebral endplates at the level of C4-C6. b Gadolinium enhanced T1-weighted sagittal, c T1-weighted sagittal, and d T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance (MR) images reveal the epidural abscess (arrows) causing spinal cord compression at the C3-C5 level. e T2-weighted whole-spine sagittal MR image also demonstrates the typical findings of destructive spondyloarthropathy, such as intervertebral disc space narrowing, minimal osteophyte formation, and erosion and cysts in the adjacent vertebral endplates at the L2-L4 level (arrows)