Anterior and posterior surgical approach for vertebral lumbar <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> osteomyelitis

<i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> (<i>M. abscessus</i>) infections primarily affect immunocompromised patients who commonly present with non-orthopedic infections. We present a case of a 63-year-old female presented with persistent back pain and radicular pain. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a large multiloculated anterior epidural abscess. We show here the unique occurrence of lumbar <i>M. abscessus</i> vertebral osteomyelitis, which was treated with L2 and L3 corpectomies, anterior lumbar interbody fusion, and posterior instrumentation via an anterolateral thoracoabdominal (TA) incision. Vascular surgery provided L1-L4 spine exposure via a left anterolateral TA incision, whereas orthopedic surgery performed L2 and L3 corpectomies with lumbar cage placement and posterior instrumentation in two separate procedures. The patient was discharged to a skilled nursing facility, retaining all neurological function, and is progressing well on follow-up.