Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42656339›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2026

Predictors of neurological recovery in spinal epidural abscess: the impact of radiographic compression, ASIA scores, and surgical delay.

Wentao Zhao, Yongrui Yang, Wenkai Ruan, Jianlong Li, Rongpan Dang, Huigang An, Liang Xu, Lu Xing, Yingxin Zhao, Hongdong Tan and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Wentao ZhaoDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yongrui YangDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Wenkai RuanDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Jianlong LiDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Rongpan DangDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Huigang AnDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Liang XuDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Lu XingDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yingxin ZhaoDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Hongdong TanDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Chenggui ZhangDepartment of Spinal Infection Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Controversy remains whether spinal epidural abscess (SEA) should be managed conservatively or by early surgical decompression. It is essential to understand how clinical and radiological parameters correlate with neurological deficits and how they predict recovery trajectories. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate whether the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features, the clinical management factors, and the neurological status on admission can predict neurological recovery in patients with SEA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with SEA between 2021 and 2024 with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Collected variables included demographics, duration of preoperative antibiotic therapy, the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor scores, and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores. Quantitative MRI parameters were assessed, including cord T2 hyperintensity, ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF), and maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC). Neurological recovery was calculated using the ASIA recovery rate, which was dichotomized as good (≥50%) or poor (<50%). Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed. Results: A total of 125 patients were included, of whom 24 were treated conservatively and 101 underwent surgical decompression. Cord T2 hyperintensity ( Conclusion: Both the clinical and radiological parameters upon presentation are predictors of neurological recovery rates in SEA. Delayed surgical decompression beyond 3 weeks is associated with poorer neurological recovery. Clinical trial registration: [website], identifier GWLCZXEC-SOP-K-2025-137.

Indexed as

Epidural AbscessSpinal Cord CompressionAdultAgedAnti-Bacterial AgentsDecompression, SurgicalFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRecovery of FunctionRetrospective StudiesTreatment DelayTreatment OutcomeAnti-Bacterial AgentsAsiamagnetic resonance imagingneurological outcomespinal epidural abscesssurgical timing

Identifiers

PMID42656339
PMCPMC13506414

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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.