CRP and abscess: Risk factors associated with higher rates of non-operative treatment failure include leukocytosis greater than 12.5, C-reactive protein (CRP) greater than 115 mg/L, diabetes mellitus (DM), positive blood cultures, age greater than 65 years old, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), active malignancy, and pathologic/compression fracture at the effected levels [7]. Shah et al. also noted the dorsal location of an abscess to be somewhat more protective from failure than a ventral abscess [7].