PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Page, Paul S.
AU  - Ammanuel, Simon
AU  - Greeneway, Garret P.
AU  - Bunch, Kate
AU  - Meisner, Lars W.
AU  - Brooks, Nathaniel P.
TI  - Socioeconomic Disparities in Outcomes Following Conservative Treatment of Spinal Epidural Abscesses
AID  - 10.14444/8426
DP  - 2023 Apr 01
TA  - International Journal of Spine Surgery
PG  - 185--189
VI  - 17
IP  - 2
4099  - https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/17/2/185.short
4100  - https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/17/2/185.full
SO  - Int J Spine Surg2023 Apr 01; 17
AB  - Background Primary spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare but serious pathology that may result in severe neurologic injury. While certain literature has identified medical risk factors for failure of conservative therapy, no current evidence has been published regarding socioeconomic risk factors associated with failure of medical therapy.Methods A retrospective review was conducted of patients presenting with SEA from primary spinal infections. Patients presenting with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of SEA treated conservatively in the absence of neurologic deficits were included. Baseline clinical and socioeconomic characteristics were collected. Failure of medical management was defined as requiring surgical intervention despite maximal medical therapy due to the development of neurologic deficits or clinically significant deformity.Results A total of 150 patients were identified as presenting with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of SEAs without evidence of neurologic deficit. Of these patients, 42 required surgical intervention compared with 108 whose infection was successfully treated with medical therapy alone. Estimated average annual income was $64,746 vs $62,615 in those who successfully cleared their infection with medical management without requiring surgery, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.5). Insured patients were 5 times more likely to be successfully treated with antibiotics alone compared with uninsured patients (OR = 5.83, P = 0.008). Payer type, employment status, and incarceration status were not associated with failure of conservative therapy.Conclusions In the treatment of primary SEA, absence of medical insurance is associated with failure of medical management. Payer status, employment status, average salary, and incarceration are not significant risk factors for failure of conservative management.Level of Evidence 3.