Decompression and fusion for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis is associated with higher early morbidity rates and risk of perioperative complications compared with decompression alone: a retrospective study in the United States.

Study design: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To assess differences in 30-day morbidity and mortality and postoperative complications between two surgical treatment options.

Overview of literature: The choice of decompression with fusion or decompression alone for the management of degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) is controversial.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program database was queried for laminectomy or laminotomy with and without fusion from 2015 to 2020. The estimated 30-day mortality and morbidity, 30-day complications, and American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) classification were evaluated through chi-square and analysis of variance tests, with the results further stratified according to the ASA classification.

Results: Of the 4,120 patients, 2,384 (58%) underwent a laminectomy or laminotomy without fusion and 1,736 (42%) underwent a laminectomy or laminotomy with fusion. Patients undergoing decompression with fusion had higher mean mortality (estimated probability 0.0034 vs. 0.0027, p<0.001), mean morbidity (estimated probability 0.053 vs. 0.048, p<0.001), mean length of stay (3.62±3.4 days vs. 3.15±4.3 days, p<0.001), and bleeding risk necessitating transfusion (9.5% vs. 7.6%, p =0.038). There was a higher rate of overall 30-day postoperative complications associated with an increasing ASA score for both cohorts.

Conclusions: Decompression with fusion was associated with higher estimated mortality, morbidity, and 30-day complications. Decompression alone is an appealing treatment option for lumbar DS, particularly for patients with higher ASA scores and those at higher risk.