Characteristics and Outcomes of Psoas Abscess: Experience From a Tertiary Care Center in North India

Background Psoas abscess (PA) is an uncommon disease involving infection of the psoas muscle with abscess formation. The evidence concerning clinical and diagnostic characteristics of PA and its outcomes is limited. The literature is heterogenous, with varying presentations and outcomes in different regions worldwide. We present a retrospective analysis of the clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics of PA, its management, and outcomes from a tertiary care center in North India. Methodology We reviewed the clinical records of confirmed cases of PA treated in our institute from January 2016 to December 2020 with a minimum follow-up of one year. Further, we performed a descriptive analysis of demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory parameters, radiological investigations, the basis of diagnosis confirmation, causative microorganisms, definitive management, treatment outcomes, and complications. Results We reviewed 33 cases with a mean age of 29.9 ± 16.8 years. Overall, 48.4% of PAs were right-sided, and 24.2% were bilateral. Abdominal discomfort was the most common presenting symptom. Blood laboratory parameters were mostly within the near-normal range except for the elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Ultrasonography was the most commonly performed radiological investigation and was the basis of diagnosis confirmation. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the most common causative microorganism. Most patients required percutaneous drainage, and around one-fourth required open drainage. All patients had symptomatic as well as radiological improvement and no major complications. Conclusions Tuberculosis is the most prevalent cause of PA in the North Indian population. Most patients respond well to the less invasive treatment with percutaneous therapeutic drainage and antitubercular drugs, with few patients requiring open drainage. However, tissue diagnosis may remain inconclusive in a few patients, and antitubercular treatment may need to be initiated based on the clinicoradiological evaluation. Nevertheless, the rate of complications is low, with nil mortality probably related to the mild-to-moderate disease course of tuberculosis.