1. Epidural abscess should be suspected in patients with lumbar and sciatic pain who have a history of staphylococcal skin infections or of diabetes.

2. The diagnosis of epidural abscess should be considered before that of herniation of a disc if the patient presents an otherwise unexplained pyrexia. The absence of radiographic changes is no bar to this diagnosis.

3. The hazards of lumbar puncture in cases of epidural abscess are obvious.

4. Early diagnosis and operation are essential to control the infective lesion and to ensure recovery of the neural lesion.