Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40285841›Full record

ArticleEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2025

The conundrum of finding an optimal spondylodiscitis treatment pathway: how do treatments affect readmission rates?

Julius Gerstmeyer, Clifford Pierre, Neel Patel, Donald David Davis, Jonathan Pluemer, Thomas A Schildhauer, Amir Abdul-Jabbar, Rod J Oskouian, Jens R Chapman

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Julius GerstmeyerSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA. julius.gerstmeyer@rub.de.ORCID 0000-0002-3341-9209
Clifford PierreSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
Neel PatelSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
Donald David DavisSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
Jonathan PluemerDepartment of General and Trauma Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany.
Thomas A SchildhauerDepartment of General and Trauma Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany.
Amir Abdul-JabbarSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
Rod J OskouianSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
Jens R ChapmanSwedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe rising incidence of spondylodiscitis (SD) poses a challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. Treatment approaches are inconsistent, devoid of standardized algorithms and lack evidence-based guidelines. To date there is a knowledge gap relative to treatment, readmission rates and efficacy for different SD management strategies. This study aims to assess the 90-day all-cause readmission rates for SD relative to treatment pathways.

methodsUsing the 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database we screened adult patients (> 18 years) for primary diagnosis of SD by ICD-10 Codes. Demographic/clinical data, and treatments was extracted. The cohort was divided into two groups by treatment at initial admission. Descriptive and comparative analysis, with a multivariate regression to identify independent risk factors for readmission, were performed.

resultsOut of 6,139 patients, 1,258 patients (20.5%) receiving surgical treatment. The overall, readmission rate was 35%. Surgically treated patients had a significantly lower readmission rate and a shorter time to readmission (29.3%; 41.65 days (± 22.84)). Those receiving surgical care during both stays (0.8%) had the longest time to readmission at 50.85 days (± 24.27). A change in treatment upon readmission was observed in 8.4%. Surgical management at index admission was identified as a protective factor against readmission.

conclusionSD management remains challenging. We showed that primary surgical treatment of SD resulted in a significantly lower readmission rate with a longer time interval until readmission compared to non-surgically treatment. Surgery at initial admission was identified as a protective factors against readmission. A more definitive initial approach towards SD might lower unexpected readmissions.

Indexed as

DiscitisPatient ReadmissionAdultAgedDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRisk FactorsInfectionReadmissionSpine surgerySpondylodiscitisTreatment algorithm

Identifiers

PMID40285841

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.