====== Spinal epidural abscess epidemiology ======

The incidence of [[spinal epidural abscess]] (SEA) has doubled in the past decade, owing to an aging population and to increased use of [[spinal instrumentation]] and vascular access. 

[[Incidence]]: 0.2–1.2 per 10,000 hospital [[admission]]s annually
((Baker AS, Ojemann RG, Swartz MN, et al. Spinal
Epidural Abscess. N Engl J Med. 1975; 293:463–
468)).
possibly on the rise
((Nussbaum ES, Rigamonti D, Standiford H, et al. Spinal
Epidural Abscess: A Report of 40 Cases and
Review. Surg Neurol. 1992; 38:225–231))
Average age:
57.5 ± 16.6 years
((Danner RL, Hartman BJ. Update of Spinal Epidural
Abscess: 35 Cases and Review of the Literature.
Rev In fect Dis. 1987; 9:265–274)).
[[Thoracic]] level is the most common site (≈ 50%), followed by [[lumbar]] (35%) then [[cervical]]
82% were posterior to the cord, and 18% anterior in one series
((Baker AS, Ojemann RG, Swartz MN, et al. Spinal
Epidural Abscess. N Engl J Med. 1975; 293:463–
468)).
SEA may span from 1 to 13 levels
((Curry WT, Jr, Hoh BL, Amin-Hanjani S, Eskandar
EN. Spinal epidural abscess: clinical presentation,
management, and outcome. Surg Neurol. 2005;
63:364–71; discussion 371)).

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is often associated with [[vertebral osteomyelitis]] (in one series of 40
cases, osteomyelitis occurred in all cases of anterior SEA, in 85% of circumferential SEA, and no cases
of posterior SEA) and intervertebral [[discitis]].