Spinal epidural abscess is a rare, potentially life-threatening severe infection of the spine that can be fatal if unrecognized and untreated. In clinical practice, the symptoms are often nonspecific (fever, back pain). Neurological symptoms are not always apparent when the diagnosis of SEA can often be missed. Spinal epidural abscess was first described by Bergamaschi in 1820 at which time it was almost always fatal. The first successful surgery was reported in 1901 by Barth, but the prognosis did not improve till antibiotics were used in conjunction with surgical debridement. Mortality decreased to 25% from 40% in the 1950s with the advent of imaging modalities and better diagnostic facilities.