查看文章

Study Design:

This was a retrospective case-control study.

Objective:

We aim to describe a novel 5-point grading system to determine the degree and severity of spinal cord compression secondary to a spinal epidural abscess (SEA). Secondarily, we aim to correlate the degree of compression with clinical presentation and outcomes.

Summary of Background Data:

Mechanical compression plays an important role in the pathophysiology of neurological dysfunction in SEA. Unfortunately, no standardized classification system for describing the degree of spinal cord compression exists. The lack of a validated grading system makes it challenging to study and consistently report the relationship between cord compression and clinical presentation/outcomes in SEA.

Materials and Methods:

Patients 18 years and older admitted to our hospital system with a diagnosis of SEA located above the conus medullaris between 1993 …