Patient demographics.
| Total (n = 47) | Decompression Alone (n = 27) | Decompression + Fusion (n = 20) | P Value | |
| Mean age, y | 59.5 | 60.3 | 58.5 | 0.52 |
| Male, % (n) | 68.1% (32) | 81.5% (22) | 50% (10) | 0.03 |
| Presumed source of infection, % (n) | ||||
| Urinary tract | 4.3% (2) | 7.4% (2) | 0% (0) | 0.50 |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissues | 21.3% (10) | 25.9% (7) | 15% (3) | 0.48 |
| Infected vascular access | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 6.4% (3) | 0% (0) | 15% (3) | 0.07 |
| Septic joint | 6.4% (3) | 3.7% (1) | 10% (2) | 0.57 |
| Postoperative infection | 4.3% (2) | 3.7% (1) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| IVDU | 4.3% (2) | 0% (0) | 10% (2) | 0.18 |
| Unknown | 51.1% (24) | 55.6% (15) | 45% (9) | 0.56 |
| Underlying illness/conditions, % (n) | ||||
| Diabetes mellitus | 42.6% (20) | 44.4% (12) | 40% (8) | 1 |
| Hypertension | 68.1% (32) | 70.4% (19) | 65% (13) | 0.76 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 8.5% (4) | 11.1% (3) | 5% (1) | 0.63 |
| Immunosuppression | 4.3% (2) | 7.4% (2) | 0% (0) | 0.50 |
| ESRD/CKD | 19.1% (9) | 18.5% (5) | 20% (4) | 1 |
| Coronary artery disease | 21.3% (10) | 29.6% (8) | 10% (2) | 0.15 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 14.9% (7) | 14.8% (4) | 15% (3) | 1 |
| Congestive heart failure | 12.8% (6) | 7.4% (2) | 20% (4) | 0.38 |
| Liver disease | 6.4% (3) | 3.7% (1) | 10% (2) | 0.57 |
| COPD | 4.3% (2) | 3.7% (1) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 6.4% (3) | 7.4% (2) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Malignancy | 8.5% (4) | 3.7% (1) | 15% (3) | 0.30 |
| IVDU | 8.5% (4) | 7.4% (2) | 10% (2) | 1 |
| Hepatitis B/C | 6.4% (3) | 7.4% (2) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Obesity | 6.4% (3) | 7.4% (2) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Rheumatic disease | 6.4% (3) | 7.4% (2) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Clinical data, % (n) | ||||
| Back pain | 68.1% (32) | 81.5% (22) | 50% (10) | 0.03 |
| Neck pain | 17% (8) | 0% (0) | 40% (8) | 0.0004 |
| Radicular pain | 17% (8) | 22.2% (6) | 10% (2) | 0.44 |
| Neurologic deficit | 34% (16) | 37% (10) | 30% (6) | 0.76 |
| Involvement levels, % (n) | ||||
| ≥3 Vertebral bodies | 42.6% (20) | 51.9% (14) | 30% (6) | 0.15 |
| Epidural involvement | 48.9% (23) | 44.4% (12) | 55% (11) | 0.56 |
| Cervical spine only | 6.4% (3) | 0% (0) | 15% (3) | 0.07 |
| Thoracic spine only | 31.9% (15) | 29.6% (8) | 35% (7) | 0.76 |
| Lumbar spine only | 23.4% (11) | 25.9% (7) | 20% (4) | 0.74 |
| Cervicothoracic spine | 10.6% (5) | 3.7% (1) | 20% (4) | 0.15 |
| Thoracolumbar spine | 12.8% (6) | 18.5% (5) | 5% (1) | 0.22 |
| Lumbosacral spine | 14.9% (7) | 22.2% (6) | 5% (1) | 0.22 |
| Bacterial pathogen isolated, % (n) | ||||
| MSSA | 34% (16) | 33.3% (9) | 35% (7) | 1 |
| MRSA | 19.1% (9) | 18.5% (5) | 20% (4) | 1 |
| Unknown | 12.8% (6) | 14.8% (4) | 10% (2) | 1 |
| Group B streptococcus | 8.5% (4) | 11.1% (3) | 5% (1) | 0.63 |
| Mycobacterium avium | 6.4% (3) | 7.4% (2) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Alpha streptococcus | 4.6% (2) | 3.7% (1) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Enterococcus faecalis | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Escherichia coli | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Coagulase-negative staphylococcus | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Staphylococcus lugdunensis | 2.1% (1) | 3.7% (1) | 0% (0) | 1 |
| Propionibacterium acnes | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Enterobacter | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Nocardia | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | 2.1% (1) | 0% (0) | 5% (1) | 1 |
| Mean length of intravenous antibiotic therapy, wk | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 1 |
CKD, chronic kidney disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ESRD, end-stage renal disease; IVDU, intravenous drug use; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.