Prognosis
Abscess drainage before neurological dysfunction carries an excellent prognosis, but it is all too easy to overlook the initial presentation resulting in rapid and severe deterioration.
A delay in the diagnosis (defined as multiple visits before the definite diagnosis and treatment) can result in increased residual weakness or permanent neurologic deficit. Irreversible paralysis still affects 4 to 22% of patients owing largely to delay in diagnosis and suboptimal management.
Patients who are already catheterized or paraplegic at presentation are unlikely to recover full function. Mortality from spinal abscesses is 20-30% with around 5% of the patients dying from sepsis or other related causes.
Reference
- Sharfman ZT et al. Spinal Epidural Abscess: A Review of Presentation, Management, and Medicolegal Implications. Asian Spine J. 2020 Oct;14(5):742-759
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