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Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal Epidural Abscess

November 2021

Spinal Epidural Abscess can lead to potentially devastating injuries. As the case studies in this article indicate, prompt diagnosis and management can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Nonetheless, favorable outcomes for patients with SEA depend on timeliness. One of the objectives of presenting case studies in this article has been to prompt consideration of SEA when the classic triad of symptoms may be present, or when back pain and fever and/or risk factors are present. Reassessing patients, re-examining them for new clues, and sometimes starting over with an open mind and a broader differential diagnosis can prompt earlier diagnosis, providing an earlier opportunity for treatment. While prompt diagnosis and treatment may be challenging, utilization of the patient safety strategies in this article is straightforward and can reduce malpractice risk exposure. Read more by clicking “Read Full Article” below.

CASE ONE
Lack of Teamwork

CASE TWO
Delayed Activation of the Chain of Command

CASE THREE
Inadequate Hand-off Communication

CASE FOUR
Conflicting Coverage Agreement Interpretations

CASE FIVE
Drug Use Stigma/ Frequent ED User Bias

CASE SIX
Patient is Too Large for MRI

CASE SEVEN
Patient is in Too Much Pain to Get an MRI

CASE EIGHT
Delay in Reporting STAT MRI Results

 

ClaimsRx-NovDec2021
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