Re: Bhattacharya R, Gobrial H, Barrington JW, Isaacs J. 2008. Psoas abscess after uncomplicated vaginal delivery: an unusual case. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 28:544–546

Dear editor,

I appreciated the case report by Bhattacharya et al. (2008) on psoas abscess after uncomplicated vaginal delivery, published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. However, I would like to bring to the attention of the authors the reference discussed in their case report by Garagiola et al. (1989).

In the case report, it says ‘Asymptomatic muscle haematoma has been described after normal delivery and it can become infected’. I think it is irrelevant to their particular case report about psoas abscess after normal vaginal delivery. The reference quoted by Garagiola et al. (1989) is of a case of haematoma adjacent to the left obturator internus muscle, measuring 2 × 3 × 4 cm, in a patient who received pudendal anaesthesia. In the discussion, they have clearly attributed this finding to pudendal anaesthesia, acknowledging it as a well recognised complication of the pudendal anaesthesia. Hence, in the case report by (Bhattacharya et al. 2008) on psoas abscess, the possible cause of abscess and the muscle involved is quite different to the reference made.

Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.