Table 1.
Patient characteristics.
| Variables | All patients (n = 27) | Group X (n = 19) | Group Y (n = 8) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 56.6 ± 14.11 | 55.8 ± 14.71 | 58.5 ± 13.30 | .55 |
| Levels (no. of discs crossed by abscess) | 2.4 ± 2.11 | 2.5 ± 2.41 | 2.1 ± 1.25 | .70 |
| Preoperative antibiotic days | 15.0 ± 19.78 | 9.7 ± 17.57 | 28.6 ± 19.79 | .004* |
| Postoperative antibiotic days | 31.5 ± 15.83 | 29.3 ± 12.14 | 37.3 ± 23.04 | .53 |
| Interval from admission to OR (days) | 12.9 ± 14.65 | 10.2 ± 14.55 | 19.4 ± 13.59 | .02* |
| Hospital stay (days) | 51.0 ± 25.96 | 43.7 ± 21.53 | 66.1 ± 27.25 | .01* |
| Follow-up (months) | 29.98 ± 42.03 | 29.8 ± 38.50 | 30.39 ± 52.44 | .97 |
| WBC (/μL) | 11,959.3 ± 6669.00 | 12,773.7 ± 7495.49 | 10,025.0 ± 3827.63 | .42 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 111.0 ± 102.13 | 123.9 ± 95.51 | 81.7 ± 117.00 | .31 |
| ESR (mm/hr) | 77.94 ± 29.03 | 83.4 ± 31.01 | 67.00 ± 23.14 | .25 |
There was statistically significant difference between group X and group Y in preoperative antibiotic days and hospital stay. *: significant values.
Group X: neurologic improvement of at least 1 Frankel grade; Group Y: neurologic grade unchanged; Abbreviations: OR: operation room; WBC: white blood-cell; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate.