Table 3.

Predictive Factors for Failure of Nonoperative Management.

Diabetes mellitus

Elevated CRP (CRP level >115 mg/L (11.5 mg/dL)

Leukocytosis (white blood cell count >12,500 cells/L)

Bacteremia

Physician-documented decline in motor status while on intravenous antibiotics

Age older than 65

MRSA

Severe neurological involvement

Motor deficit at presentation

Pathologic or compression vertebral fracture in the affected levels

Active malignancy

Sensory change

Dorsal location of abscess

Primarily radiographic evidence of disease progression

Progression of bony deformities in the spine

CRP; C-reactive protein, MRSA; methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Based on Shah AA, Ogink PT, Nelson SB, et al. Nonoperative management of spinal epidural abscess: Development of a predictive algorithm for failure. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018;100(7):546-55 ⁽⁵¹⁾.